HoloLAB Champions: A Immersive Reality Chemistry Game

During Phase I, (completed in 2016), the team developed a prototype of HoloLAB Champions, including a virtual chemistry lab environment within which students immerse themselves while wearing a VR headset. At the end of Phase I, researchers completed a pilot study with 54 students and three teachers. Results demonstrated that the hardware and software prototype operated as intended, teachers were able to integrate it within the classroom environment, and students were engaged while using the prototype. In Phase II, the team will add content modules and a gameplay narrative to the platform, build the automated feedback mechanism, strengthen the back-end management system, and build out the teacher reporting dashboard. After development is complete, the research team will conduct a larger pilot study to assess the feasibility and usability, fidelity of implementation, and the promise of the HoloLAB Champions for improving student learning in chemistry. The study will include 10 high school chemistry classrooms, half randomly assigned to use HoloLAB Champions and half to follow business-as-usual procedures. Researchers will compare pre-and-post scores of student's chemistry learning.