{"id":255,"date":"2026-03-17T10:29:39","date_gmt":"2026-03-17T10:29:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/H890Conference\/?p=255"},"modified":"2026-03-17T10:29:39","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T10:29:39","slug":"using-virtual-and-augmented-reality-to-enhance-primary-students-learning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/H890Conference\/index.php\/2026\/03\/17\/using-virtual-and-augmented-reality-to-enhance-primary-students-learning\/","title":{"rendered":"Using Virtual and Augmented Reality to Enhance Primary Students\u2019 Learning"},"content":{"rendered":"

Over\u00a0the past two decades,\u00a0research\u00a0into\u00a0the use of Virtual (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) in\u00a0schools\u00a0has\u00a0demonstrated\u00a0an increase\u00a0in\u00a0student engagement,\u00a0motivation,\u00a0learning\u00a0and retention of knowledge (Azuma et al, 2001; Chen et al, 2018;\u00a0Alenezi, 2023).\u00a0VR and AR technology has\u00a0become\u00a0more\u00a0accessible\u00a0in recent years, leading to an interest in using this within education, however,\u00a0very few studies have looked at the\u00a0effectiveness\u00a0of these\u00a0with primary-aged children (Chua et al, 2019).\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Many teaching beliefs are based\u00a0on\u00a0social constructivism, which believes that learning occurs when individuals actively\u00a0build\u00a0knowledge with the support of others, and is often seen as a key basis around beliefs on the way that children learn (Schreiber & Valle, 2013; Davis et al, 2017).\u00a0Social\u00a0constructivism\u00a0can be broken down into\u00a0three key principles: active involvement; social participation; and meaningful activities; all of which\u00a0can be achieved through hands-on experiences\u00a0and\u00a0museum\u00a0visits\u00a0(Vosniadou, 2003). However,\u00a0due to the\u00a0financial and time constraints of teaching, these are often not\u00a0feasible. Therefore, the proposed study aims to find an alternative.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This\u00a0proposed\u00a0study\u00a0will\u00a0explore three key questions:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. How does the use of VR and AR affect primary students\u2019 attainment in science compared to traditional teaching methods?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
      \n
    1. How does the\u00a0consistent use\u00a0of VR\u00a0and\u00a0AR affect\u00a0primary student\u00a0engagement over time?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
        \n
      1. How do teachers integrate VR and AR into existing primary science curriculum?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        The planned study will be a longitudinal study following a quasi-experimental approach, using three classes from similar demographics.\u00a0The study\u00a0will be expected to run for three years and involves\u00a0yearly reflections.\u00a0For ethical reasons, the study will\u00a0be separated\u00a0into\u00a0six-week cycles\u00a0based on science topics, where classes will switch\u00a0their assigned\u00a0teaching\u00a0method\u00a0each cycle.\u00a0<\/span>The teaching methods\u00a0include\u00a0traditional classroom\u00a0approaches;\u00a0short-term use of VR and AR; and\u00a0full\u00a0integration of\u00a0VR and AR\u00a0for the duration of the cycle.\u00a0Participants will then be tested on the retention of\u00a0learning taught at the end of each year.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        The proposed study uses a variety of methods\u00a0and includes collecting both quantitative and qualitative data.\u00a0The first two research questions focus on the students. To measure this,\u00a0quantitative data will be gathered\u00a0using\u00a0assessments and questionnaires\u00a0at the end of each year.\u00a0The final question focuses on the teachers and the practicality of embedding this technology into their curriculum.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        The results are\u00a0expected to show that when VR and AR technology is used students\u00a0demonstrate\u00a0greater engagement\u00a0in lessons\u00a0compared to traditional teaching methods.\u00a0<\/span>Several studies have reported positive outcomes,\u00a0however\u00a0there have been concerns around the effectiveness of long-term use\u00a0on motivation\u00a0(Zhong et al., 2025).<\/span>\u00a0The results aim to address these concerns.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        The results of the\u00a0study\u00a0would be of interest to schools and\u00a0curriculum leaders and would\u00a0provide insight into how the use of VR and AR technology could support learning. Teachers would be interested in the findings to understand how this use of technology could affect attainment,\u00a0engagement\u00a0and their workload.\u00a0The\u00a0findings\u00a0of this study could be\u00a0disseminated\u00a0widely to add to research around\u00a0the impact of using\u00a0VR and AR\u00a0in classrooms.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        References:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        Alenezi, A. (2023) \u2018The effectiveness of augmented reality technology in enhancing learning outcomes among primary school students: a study based on the ARCS model of motivation\u2019,\u00a0<\/span>Journal of Educational Sciences & Psychology<\/span><\/i>, 13 (75)(2), pp. 166\u2013181<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        Azuma, R., Baillot, Y., Behringer, R., Feiner, S., Julier,\u00a0S.\u00a0and MacIntyre, B. (2001) “Recent advances in augmented reality,”\u202f<\/span>IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications<\/span><\/i>, 21 (6), pp. 34-47<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        Chen, H., Dai, Y., Meng, H., Chen, Y., and Li, T. (2018) “Understanding the Characteristics of Mobile Augmented Reality Applications,”<\/span>\u00a0IEEE International Symposium on Performance Analysis of Systems and Software (ISPASS)<\/span><\/i>, pp. 128-138<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        Chua, Y., Sridhar, P.K, Zhang, H., Dissanayake, V. and Nanayakkara, S. (2019) \u2018Evaluating IVR in Primary School Classrooms\u2019,\u00a0<\/span>2019 IEEE International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality Adjunct (ISMAR-Adjunct).\u00a0<\/span><\/i>IEEE, pp. 169\u2013174<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        Davis, M.L., Witcraft, S.M., Baird, S.O. and Smits, J.A.J. (2017) \u2018Learning Principles in CBT\u2019 in Hofmann, G. and Asmundson, G.J.G (eds)\u00a0<\/span>The Science of Cognitive\u00a0Behavioral\u00a0Therapy<\/span><\/i>. London: Elsevier, pp.70-98<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        Schreiber, L.M. and Valle, B.E. (2013) \u2018Social Constructivist Teaching Strategies in the Small Group Classroom\u2019,\u00a0<\/span>Small Group Research<\/span><\/i>, 44(4), pp. 395-411.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        Vosniadou, S. (2003)\u00a0<\/span>How Children Learn.\u00a0<\/span><\/i>Available at:\u00a0<\/span>https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/44826007_How_children_learn<\/span><\/a>\u00a0[Accessed:\u00a016<\/span>th<\/span>\u00a0February 2026]<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        Zhong, L., Lang, W., Rong, J., Chen, G. and Fan, M. (2025) \u2018Enhancing Motivation and Learning in Primary School History Classrooms: The Impact of Virtual Reality\u2019,\u00a0<\/span>LAK \u201925: Proceedings of the 15<\/span><\/i>th<\/span><\/i>\u00a0Internation Learning Analytics and Knowledge Conference<\/span><\/i>, pp. 272-282<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        Over\u00a0the past two decades,\u00a0research\u00a0into\u00a0the use of Virtual (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) in\u00a0schools\u00a0has\u00a0demonstrated\u00a0an increase\u00a0in\u00a0student engagement,\u00a0motivation,\u00a0learning\u00a0and retention of knowledge (Azuma et al, 2001; Chen et al, 2018;\u00a0Alenezi, 2023).\u00a0VR and AR technology has\u00a0become\u00a0more\u00a0accessible\u00a0in recent years, leading to an interest in using this within education, however,\u00a0very few studies have looked at the\u00a0effectiveness\u00a0of these\u00a0with primary-aged children (Chua et al, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[113,111,112,115,114,116,110],"class_list":["post-255","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorised","tag-attainment","tag-augmented-reality","tag-engagement","tag-primary-classroom","tag-retention","tag-science","tag-virtual-reality"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/H890Conference\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/255","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/H890Conference\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/H890Conference\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/H890Conference\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/H890Conference\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=255"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/H890Conference\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/255\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":256,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/H890Conference\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/255\/revisions\/256"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/H890Conference\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=255"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/H890Conference\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=255"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/H890Conference\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=255"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}