Evaluation of instructional lesson plans in VIEs is a crucial aspect of ensuring that learning objectives are achieved. It involves a systematic process of assessing the effectiveness of the lesson plan, identifying areas that need improvement, and making necessary adjustments to enhance learning outcomes. In this section, we will discuss the importance of evaluating VIE instructional lesson plans and the various methods used to achieve this goal.

Why Evaluate VIE Instructional Lesson Plans?

Evaluation is an essential step in the instructional design process, as it provides valuable feedback on the effectiveness of the lesson plan. The feedback obtained from the evaluation process can be used to improve the design of future lessons and ensure that the learning objectives are met. Evaluation can help to identify any gaps in knowledge and skills, as well as highlight areas where learners require additional support.

Evaluation can also help to identify any technical issues with the VIE, such as slow loading times, poor graphics quality, or other problems that could impact the learning experience. Identifying these issues early can help to ensure that learners have a positive experience in the VIE and that learning outcomes are not negatively affected.

Methods for Evaluating VIE Instructional Lesson Plans

There are several methods for evaluating VIE instructional lesson plans, including formative evaluation, summative evaluation, and user feedback.

Formative evaluation is an ongoing process that involves reviewing the instructional lesson plan during its development and implementation. This method allows for early identification of any issues and provides an opportunity to make necessary adjustments to enhance learning outcomes. Formative evaluation can also help to identify any technical issues with the VIE.

Summative evaluation is a method used to assess the overall effectiveness of the instructional lesson plan once it has been completed. This method involves assessing the learning outcomes and comparing them to the instructional objectives. The goal of summative evaluation is to determine if the learning objectives were met and if the instructional lesson plan was effective in achieving these objectives.

User feedback is another method for evaluating VIE instructional lesson plans. This method involves gathering feedback from learners about their experience in the VIE. This feedback can be obtained through surveys, interviews, or other methods. User feedback can provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of the instructional lesson plan and can help to identify areas for improvement.

Evaluating VIE instructional lesson plans is an essential step in the instructional design process. It provides valuable feedback on the effectiveness of the lesson plan and can help to identify areas for improvement. The various methods for evaluation, including formative evaluation, summative evaluation, and user feedback, provide a comprehensive approach to evaluating instructional lesson plans in VIEs. By incorporating evaluation into the instructional design process, educators can ensure that their VIE instructional lesson plans are effective in achieving learning objectives and providing an engaging and interactive learning experience.

There are a variety of methods and tools that can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of VIE lesson plans. Some common approaches include:

Pre- and post-test assessments of learning outcomes: Comparing student performance on a knowledge or skills assessment before and after participating in a VIE lesson plan can provide insight into the effectiveness of the instructional approach.

Observations of student behavior: Observing how students interact with a VIE lesson plan and identifying areas where they struggle or excel can provide valuable information for improving the lesson plan.

Surveys and questionnaires: Collecting feedback from students about their experience with a VIE lesson plan can provide insight into their engagement, motivation, and overall satisfaction with the instructional approach.

Expert review: Having subject matter experts review the VIE lesson plan and provide feedback on its effectiveness and alignment with learning objectives can be a useful evaluation tool.

Analytics and data tracking: Collecting data on how students engage with a VIE lesson plan, such as how much time they spend in the simulation or how many times they attempt a task, can provide insights into the effectiveness of the instructional approach.

Overall, a combination of these evaluation methods can be used to gather comprehensive data on the effectiveness of a VIE lesson plan. 

1. Examples of the lesson plans in VIE

Exploring the Human Body: Grade Level: 9-12

Overview: This lesson aims to provide an immersive learning experience to students by exploring the human body in a VIE. Students will learn about the anatomy and physiology of the human body by using various VIE tools and interacting with 3D models.

Learning Objectives:

• Students will be able to identify and label the major organs and systems of the human body.
• Students will be able to explain the functions of the major organs and systems of the human body.
• Students will be able to analyze the interdependence of different organs and systems of the human body.

Hardware and Software

• Computer with internet access
• Virtual reality headset
• VIE software
  • Human anatomy models

Learning Activities:

Introduction 

The teacher will introduce the lesson topic and objectives.

Students will be asked to brainstorm what they already know about the human body.

Virtual Reality Exploration.

Students will put on the VR headset and use the VIE software to explore the human body.

They will interact with 3D models and examine different organs and systems.

The teacher will guide the students and provide explanations and examples.

Analysis and Discussion.

Students will reflect on what they learned during the virtual reality exploration.

They will discuss and compare different organs and systems, their functions, and their interdependence.

The teacher will facilitate the discussion and provide feedback.

Group Project

Students will be divided into groups and given a specific organ or system to study in detail.

They will research and gather information about the organ or system using various sources, including the VIE software.

They will create a multimedia presentation to share their findings with the class.

Assessment

During the virtual reality exploration, the teacher will observe the students and assess their engagement and participation.

At the end of the lesson, students will take a short quiz to test their knowledge of the major organs and systems of the human body.

The group project will be assessed based on the quality of the multimedia presentation and the accuracy and depth of the research.

2. Lesson Plan: Exploring Ancient Egypt in Virtual Reality: Grade Level: 6th-8th grade

Learning Objectives:

Students will be able to identify and describe the key characteristics of ancient Egyptian civilization.

Students will be able to analyze the role of the Nile River in ancient Egyptian society.

Students will be able to compare and contrast the different types of ancient Egyptian architecture.

Hardware and Softwae

Virtual reality headsets

Smartphones or tablets

“Exploring Ancient Egypt” virtual reality app

Paper and pencils

Procedure:

Introduction

Begin the lesson by asking the students what they already know about ancient Egypt. Create a list on the board of their responses. Then, introduce the learning objectives for the lesson.

Virtual Reality Exploration

Divide the class into small groups of 3-4 students. Give each group a virtual reality headset and a smartphone or tablet. Instruct the students to download and open the “Exploring Ancient Egypt” app.

As the students explore the virtual reality environment, they should take notes on the key characteristics of ancient Egyptian civilization, the role of the Nile River, and the different types of ancient Egyptian architecture. They should also discuss their observations with their group members.

Group Discussion

Bring the class back together and facilitate a group discussion on the students' observations. Ask each group to share their notes and observations with the class. Encourage the students to ask questions and make connections between the different aspects of ancient Egyptian society.

Assessment

Instruct the students to use their notes to write a short essay on one of the following topics:

The importance of the Nile River in ancient Egyptian society

The role of architecture in ancient Egyptian society

The daily life of ancient Egyptians

The essay should be a minimum of 500 words and should demonstrate an understanding of the key characteristics of ancient Egyptian civilization.

Conclusion 

Wrap up the lesson by having each student share one thing they learned about ancient Egypt. Remind the students of the learning objectives and how they were met during the lesson.

Assessment

The students' essays will be assessed on the following criteria:

Demonstrated understanding of the key characteristics of ancient Egyptian civilization

Use of evidence and examples to support their arguments

Use of proper grammar and spelling

Lesson Plan: Design of VR and 3D Environments for Teaching DNA Structure (You may find more information here)

Objective

 Students will understand the structure of DNA and the components of nucleic acids.

Hardware and Software

• Blender 3D modeling software
• Unity game engine
• Protein Data Bank (PDB) files (Safadel & White, 2019)
• ePMV add-ons for Blender
• Adobe Captivate
• Desktop computers
• HTC VIVE headset and controllers
• C# scripts

Lesson Outline:

1. Introduction
• Briefly introduce the concept of DNA and its importance in biology.
• Explain the use of VR and 3D environments in learning DNA structure.
  
2. Creating 3D models of macromolecules
• Demonstrate how to import PDB files into Blender.
• Guide students in creating their own 3D models of DNA using Blender.
3. Developing a desktop tutorial using Adobe Captivate
• Introduce Adobe Captivate and its role in creating interactive lessons.
• Demonstrate how to import 3D models into Adobe Captivate.
• Guide students in creating an interactive tutorial about DNA structure using Alessi and Trollip's instructional guidelines (Alessi & Trollip, 1984).
• Have students practice navigating their tutorial and answering questions to proceed to the next level.
4. Creating a VR environment using Unity
• Introduce the Unity game engine and its role in creating VR environments.
• Demonstrate how to import the desktop tutorial into Unity.
• Guide students in programming their 3D objects and environment using C# scripts.
• Have students practice interacting with the VR environment using HTC VIVE headset and controllers.
5. Assessing student learning
• Provide a final quiz consisting of 15 questions that challenge students' spatial recognition of DNA molecules.
• Allow students to use either the desktop or VR environment to complete the quiz.
• Review and discuss the answers to the quiz as a class.
6. Conclusion 
• Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using VR and 3D environments in learning DNA structure.
• Encourage students to explore other applications of VR and 3D modeling in science education (Safadel, White, 2020).

References