The Role of Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality in Digital Learning: Comparing Matching Task Performance

Abstract

This paper explores the potential uses of Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality in education and learning. It is important to understand if people learn differently in unique environments such as physical, digital, Augmented Reality, and Virtual Reality. Since a lot of learning occurs in the physical and digital realm, it is important to understand the role that Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality can have in education and learning. Exploring and quantifying learning in these different environments is challenging, so our research started out with basic memorization. To begin to understand this relation, we conducted a simple matching task in these environments collecting accuracy and completion time data. Results suggest that there is no significant difference between matching performance between environments. Results also showed that there may be a difference in user interfaces that environments provide, since some environments allowed user to complete the task faster than others. Additionally, we explored annotation and collaboration in Augmented and Virtual Environments. This study presents an initial exploration of user matching performance, collaboration, and annotation in these different media environments.