Abstract
The globalization of contemporary education is ensured by the incorporation of cutting-edge pedagogical techniques and active learning technologies, such as case-method technology, into the teaching and learning process as a whole. The primary objective of this research endeavour was to assess the efficacy of the case method when employed in the integration of virtual reality technologies into the educational process for students pursuing technical disciplines, with a particular focus on enhancing their academic and professional proficiencies. The sample included 286 National Research Mordovia State University n.a. N.P. Ogarev University third-year students who were enrolled full-time. The first group was trained using traditional teaching methods, while the second group attended virtual reality courses in the context of the case method. To assess the level of thinking and creativity, the Jerome Bruner questionnaire was used. Academic achievement was measured using a five-point scale. The study revealed that when comparing the groups using classical teaching methods and the case method with the help of virtual reality technology, students’ learning achievements do not differ (p˃0.05); the average scores are 3.88 ± 0.75 and 4.16 ± 0.62 respectively; however, there was a tendency for an increase in the total score in the group where virtual reality was used. A case-method technology study in the context of virtual reality among engineering students revealed a connection between academic achievement and object, visual, iconic, symbolic thinking and creativity: the higher the basic type of thinking, the higher the academic achievement. This research paves the way for introducing case-method technology into higher technical education. Educators can use existing refinements and create full-fledged courses for some topics on the use of virtual reality software.
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Acknowledgements
Albina Sergeeva has been supported by the Kazan Federal University Strategic Academic Leadership Program.
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Appendix
Appendix
Dear Respondent,
We invite you to participate in a research survey at National Research Mordovia State University n.a. N.P. Ogarev University.
Please write “+” if you agree with the statement and “-“ if you disagree.
No. | Statement | Answer |
|---|---|---|
1. | It is easier for me to do something than to explain why I did it | |
2. | I like setting up programs for my PC | |
3. | I like to read fiction | |
4. | I like painting (sculpture) | |
5. | I would not prefer a job where everything is clearly defined | |
6. | It is easier for me to learn something if I am able to manipulate things | |
7. | I like chess and checkers | |
8. | Both oral and written expressions come easily to me | |
9. | I would like to collect things | |
10. | I love and understand abstract painting | |
11. | I would rather be a locksmith than an engineer | |
12. | For me algebra is more interesting than geometry | |
13. | In fiction, for me, it is not what is said, but how it is said that counts | |
14. | I like to attend spectacular events | |
15. | I don’t like regimented work | |
16. | I like doing things with my own hands | |
17. | As a child, I liked to create my own word/sign/cipher system for correspondence with friends | |
18. | I attach great importance to the form of expression | |
19. | I find it difficult to convey the content of the story without imagining it | |
20. | I don’t like visiting museums as they are all the same | |
21. | I take any information as a guide to action | |
22. | I am more attracted to the trademark of the company than its name | |
23. | Being a commentator on radio and television appeals to me | |
24. | Familiar tunes evoke certain images in my mind | |
25. | I like to fantasize | |
26. | When I listen to music, it makes me want to dance | |
27. | I am interested in understanding drawings and diagrams | |
28. | I like fiction | |
29. | The familiar smell evokes the whole picture of events that took place many years ago | |
30. | Diverse hobbies make life richer | |
31. | Only what you can touch with your hands is true | |
32. | I prefer the STEM disciplines | |
33. | I don’t go looking for a word in edgewise | |
34. | I like drawing | |
35. | The same play/movie can be watched many times, the main thing is the acting, a new interpretation | |
36. | As a child I used to love to build mechanisms out of construction kit parts | |
37. | I feel like I could pick up shorthand | |
38. | I like reading poems out loud | |
39. | I agree with the statement that beauty will save the world | |
40. | I would rather be a pattern cutter than a tailor | |
41. | It is better to make a stool by hand than to have to design one | |
42. | I think I could learn to be a programmer | |
43. | I like poetry | |
44. | I create a drawing before fabricating a component | |
45. | I like the process of the activity more than the end result | |
46. | Working in a workshop, in my opinion, is preferable to studying blueprints | |
47. | I would be interested in deciphering the ancient inscriptions | |
48. | If I need to speak, I always prepare my speech, even though I am sure I will find the right words | |
49. | I like solving geometry problems more than I like solving algebra | |
50. | Even in a well-established business, I am trying to change things creatively | |
51. | I like to do crafts or make things at home | |
52. | I could learn programming languages | |
53. | I have no problem writing an essay on a given topic | |
54. | It is easy for me to imagine an image of a non-existent object or phenomenon | |
55. | I sometimes doubt even what others see as obvious | |
56. | I would rather fix the iron myself than take it to a repair shop | |
57. | I learn grammatical constructions of language easily | |
58. | I like writing letters | |
59. | I can imagine the plot of the film as a series of images | |
60. | Abstract paintings are a great source for thought | |
61. | The classes I liked best at school were arts & crafts and food technology classes | |
62. | I have no difficulty learning a foreign language | |
63. | I willingly say something if my friends ask me to | |
64. | I can easily visualize the content of what I have heard | |
65. | I would not want to submit my life to a particular system | |
66. | I often do it first, and then I think about whether the decision is the right one | |
67. | I think I could learn Chinese characters | |
68. | I can’t help but share the news I’ve just heard | |
69. | I find the work of the screenwriter/writer interesting | |
70. | The designer is a fascinating profession | |
71. | When dealing with a problem, I find it easier to go by trial and error | |
72. | Learning the road signs did not/will not be difficult for me | |
73. | I find it easy to get along with strangers | |
74. | I am attracted to the work of a graphic designer | |
75. | I don’t like walking the same path |
Thank you for taking part in the scientific survey!
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Rzanova, S., Yushchik, E., Markova, S. et al. Impact of virtual reality technologies in the context of the case method on engineering students’ competencies. Educ Inf Technol 29, 7341–7359 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-023-12123-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-023-12123-7