Perception as Expression: Virtual Reality in the Classroom

Abstract

“It is the real, and not the map, whose vestiges persist here and there in the deserts that are no longer those of the Empire, but ours: The desert of the real itself.” (Baudrillard in Simulacra and Simulation, 1994). VR is a new medium that is helping to dissolve the boundaries between technology and imagination. The VR market is expanding at a fast rate with worldwide growth rates in 2019 of up to 69% per year (Sinclair in AR/VR spending to jump 69% in 2019-IDC, 2018). In this paper, we will examine how virtual reality with fully immersive head-mounted display systems help students to develop creative confidence and improved attitudes. The research will extend existing research on VR to examine content creation apps; with a focus on Google’s Tilt Brush. In the first section, this paper will discuss the educational applications of VR, and the second section will include the statistical analyses of VR in the art classroom. Finally, we will conclude and evaluate whether VR is a useful tool in fostering creativity in the classroom environment. This research project makes use of a mixed methods research platform to investigate students’ perceptions and learning outcomes. Quantitative data is dominant in the study where surveys and sculptural artifacts are analyzed.

Appendix A: Academic Psychological Capital Questionnaire

Academic PsyCap (A-PCQ; Luthans, Luthans, & Jensen, 2012)

Below are a series of statements that describe how you may think about yourself RIGHT NOW. We are asking you to consider each question relative to your art-making and school life aspects. Use the scale below to indicate your level of agreement or disagreement with each statement.

Strongly disagree	Disagree	Somewhat disagree	Somewhat agree	Agree	Strongly agree
1	2	3	4	5	6

Art practice refers to drawings, sketches, visual journaling as well as any visually creative endeavor.

			When I make art…
I	I feel confident identifying problems to help improve my art
2	I feel confident in presenting my ideas in my artworks
3	I feel confident sharing about strategies I use in my art
4	I feel confident setting targets/goals for art
5	I feel confident contacting people to discuss problems concerning my art
6	I feel confident sharing my art with a group of students
7	If 1 should find myself in a jam with my art, I can think of many ways to get out of the jam
8	At the present time, I am energetically pursuing my artistic goals
9	There are lots of ways around any problem concerning art-making
10	Right now, I see myself as being pretty successful concerning my art
11	I can think of many ways to reach my current goals in art
12	At this time, I am meeting the goals that I have set for myself concerning my art
13	When I have a setback in my artwork, I have trouble recovering from it, moving on
14	I usually manage difficulties one way or another in my art practice
15	I can be “on my own” so to speak, if I have to make art
16	I usually take stressful things in stride with regard to my art
17	I can get through difficult times at school because of overcoming difficulties before in art
18	I feel 1 can handle many things at a time in my art
19	When things are uncertain for me with regards to my art, I usually expect the best
20	If something can go wrong for me with my art, it will
21	I always look on the bright side of things regarding my art
22	I'm optimistic about what will happen to me in the future regarding my art practice
23	With regards to art, things never work out the way I want them to
24	I approach my art as if “every cloud has a silver lining”