VR Stereo Thrills & Spills: An Immersive Virtual Reality Game for Enhancing Student Understanding of Stereoisomerism

Abstract

Educational games have emerged as effective pedagogical tools by fostering active learning and experiential engagement. Virtual reality (VR) technology, with its immersive and interactive 3D environments, offers a unique platform for exploring complex scientific concepts, particularly those with strong visual components such as stereochemistry. This study presents the design and initial evaluation of a VR-based educational game aimed at enhancing the student understanding of stereochemistry. The game comprises five stages, each with two levels, that gradually introduce key stereochemistry concepts. Recognizing the crucial role of representational competence and visuospatial skills in stereochemistry learning, the game was designed to address these cognitive demands through interactive and engaging gameplay. A usability study involving 31 undergraduate chemistry students assessed the game’s user experience. The findings suggest that the game holds promise as a valuable learning tool for enhancing student understanding of stereochemistry.