Virtual Reality and Embodied Learning: Unraveling the Relationship via Dynamic Learner Behavior

Abstract

Embodied Cognition theory asserts that the physical body, its environment, and the interplay between them hold a pivotal role in the process of embodied learning. In comparison to traditional and computer-based learning methods, Virtual Reality (VR) enhances embodied learning, primarily owing to its capacity to offer a sense of situatedness and engage learners through physical interactions. Furthermore, the incorporation of haptic sensations in VR-based learning introduces tactile sensory memory, complementing the existing auditory and visual sensory dimensions. Despite the evident advantages of VR in facilitating embodied learning, the current body of literature has yet to delve into the dynamic behaviors exhibited by learners within Virtual Reality Learning Environments (VRLEs) during embodied interactions, and their inherent relationship with the embodiment phenomenon. In this paper, we take a significant step by integrating the Interaction Behavioral Data (IBD) collection mechanism, a development from our previous work, into a VRLE. This integration is achieved by adopting a structured framework for embodied learning activities within a VR context. Through an empirical study involving 14 participants, we meticulously logged their interaction traces using the IBD logger. Subsequently, we effectively extracted the diverse embodied learning activities carried out by these participants within the VRLE, from the interaction trace data collected in the IBD logger. Our endeavor aims to establish meaningful connections between these embodied interaction activities and the overarching concept of embodiment. These correlations, once identified, will serve as invaluable insights for VR content developers, offering clear guidelines for the design and creation of VRLEs that optimally facilitate enhanced learning experiences. Ultimately, this knowledge transfer will not only empower instructors and learners to harness VR as a potent educational tool within their regular teaching and learning practices but also foster the seamless integration of VR into mainstream education.