Educational Design Beats Immersion

⊲ Cureus ⊳ US Researchers tested a new model for judging how well virtual reality, augmented reality and handheld ultrasound training work together in medical education. Forty one students finished the full set of exercises, which ended with a skin image reading test. What mattered most for getting the skin readings right was not the VR training itself, but how much students already knew about the topic beforehand. Feelings of presence in VR and mental effort during it showed little link to later performance, and one composite score fell just short of significance.
What students already know about dermoscopy mattered more than any VR gadget, a reminder that basics still come first.
⊲ Image – 10.7759/cureus.112844 ⊳
www.simulation.news