Descriptive literature review of the added value of virtual realities in vocational education and training
Keywords:
virtual reality, surplus value, professional development, vocational education and learning, educational technology, literature reviewAbstract
In this review article, we examine the utilization of Virtual Reality (VR) technology in vocational and professional learning over the last ten years. We aim to scrutinize what kind of research exists on the subject, and what kind of added value VR generates for vocational and professional learning based on 13 journal articles. According to our results, research targeting at the use of VR in vocational and professional learning has increased but is still relatively scarce. Most of the research results consider user experience in the testing of different VR applications. The surplus-value we detected connects with overcoming limitations of the real world and amplifying factors that are essential to the learning processes in question. Our results highlight functionality, emotions, and the possibilities to steer learning processes as categories of surplus-value. More research is needed, especially on the long-term effects of VR on learning outcomes, including learning results for different individuals and in different learning processes.
