Companion & Gravitation
Role
Evaluate the effectiveness of the companion in the context of a gravity exercise
Description
This game helps to evaluate the benefits of using a companion for educational purposes, as studied through the teaching of the concept of gravity. In the game, I compare 3 different conditions: with the help of a physically present real teacher, with a live video of the teacher (online), and with a neutral VR avatar of a teacher (the avatar being manipulated by the teacher). I designed and implemented 3 exercises to teach the gravitation concept: an introduction to the gravity concept, a parabolic trajectory workshop, and a final exercise combining both approaches. The results showed that the effectiveness of using the VR simulations for learning increased and the self-confidence of the students increased as well. The interviews with players show that they ranked the teaching modes in this order: VR companion mode, video communication and real teacher.
Device
Lenovo Explorer VR headset
Development
Unity 3D, C#
Exercise 1 - Object dropping in a gravity field
The 1st exercise is designed to address the most common misconception that a heavy object falls faster than light one.
Exercise 2 - Parabolic motion in a gravity field
The 2nd exercise aims to demonstrate that regardless of the force of gravity, the trajectory of the projectile always remains parabolic.
Exercise 3 - Motion in “Gravitational sandwiches"
In the 3rd exercise students can observe how the trajectory of the projectile changes depending on the presence or absence of a gravitational field:
There are 2 platforms with big cubes. Cubes have or don’t have gravity inside. On the one platform cubes have order like Gravity-NoGravity-Gravity, on another NoGravity-Gravity-NoGravity.
I. Zhurakovskaia, J. Vezien, and P. Bourdot. “Teaching with a companion: the case of gravity”, Accepted at the 22nd IEEE International Conference on Advanced Learning Technologies, Proceedings, 1-4 July 2022, Bucharest (Romania).