Virtual Reality for Life Skills Education: Program Evaluation

AbstractA program evaluation was completed for a Virtual Reality (VR) pilot project intended to aid deaf children in learning various life skills which they may be at risk of not adequately learning. Such skills include crossing the street safely, exiting a building during a fire drill, and avoiding situations in which strangers may harm them. The VR was intended to allow the children extra exposure to these various scenarios to encourage proper decision-making while in a safe environment. Fifty deaf children ages 5 to 10 years from a local elementary school were included in this study. During a six-week session, students were periodically involved with the VR classroom. A different life skill was targeted each week. This evaluation looked at multiple aspects of the project to gain an overall impression of whether or not the program is beneficial to deaf children or other at-risk populations. Such areas included usability, likeability, and transfer of knowledge. The system overall was well liked and user-...