Design, capture and evaluation of a VR Digital Twin Chemistry Laboratory for undergraduate STEM education
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Type
Conference Paper
Abstract
This paper presents the design, development, and pilot evaluation of a high-fidelity immersive virtual reality (IVR) digital twin of a university chemistry teaching laboratory, developed to support undergraduate students' transition into STEM laboratory work. The experience offers a private, low-stakes, repeatable environment for procedural familiarisation before time-constrained physical laboratory sessions. Developed collaboratively between the Department of Chemistry and a permanent institutional Creative Technology unit, the digital twin replicates the physical teaching laboratory in appearance, spatial layout, and logic. The technical workflow combined HDRI capture and manual 3D modelling, optimised for standalone VR headsets. The experience forms one component of a broader transmedia learning strategy incorporating video, web-based 3D exploration, and physical laboratory practice. A pilot deployment with 40 first-year undergraduate Chemistry students yielded positive descriptive findings: 90% rated the experience as good or excellent, 75% reported increased confidence, and 77.5% identified it as extremely or very helpful for students with little or no prior laboratory exposure. Consistent with prior research indicating that immersive VR most reliably influences affective dimensions such as confidence and perceived preparedness, these findings are interpreted as descriptive indicators of learner perception rather than evidence of learning gains or direct skill transfer.
Date Issued
2026-05-25
Date Acceptance
2026-04-24
Citation
Proceedings of EdMedia, 2026, pp.1519-1533
ISBN
978-1-939797-89-6
Publisher
Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE)
Start Page
1519
End Page
1533
Journal / Book Title
Proceedings of EdMedia
Copyright Statement
© 2026 Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE).
Identifier
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Daniel-Butters
Source
Edmedia 2026
Subjects
Chemistry
Virtual Reality
Publication Status
Published
Start Date
2026-05-25
Finish Date
2026-05-29
Coverage Spatial
Edinburgh. Scotland