From users to creators: Design and evaluation of a VR professional development program for educators

Geris A., ÇUKURBAŞI B., TUNGA Y., Engin G.

COMPUTERS & EDUCATION, cilt.243, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, SSCI, Scopus) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 243
  • Basım Tarihi: 2026
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.compedu.2025.105518
  • Dergi Adı: COMPUTERS & EDUCATION
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Compendex, Education Abstracts, Educational research abstracts (ERA), INSPEC, Psycinfo, DIALNET
  • Manisa Celal Bayar Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

As immersive technologies expand in education, a gap persists between teachers' familiarity with virtual reality (VR) tools and effective pedagogical use. This study designed, implemented, and evaluated a 60-h VR Trainer Training Program using Educational Design Research (EDR) and the Taba-Tyler curriculum model. Sixteen teachers participated in a needs analysis, followed by 42 inservice teachers from 30 provinces in T & uuml;rkiye engaging in the training program. The curriculum combined theoretical instruction with hands-on practice in tools such as Unity and Blender, supported by scaffolded learning and peer collaboration. Findings show significant gains in technical competence and pedagogical integration, with 85 % of participants producing technically functional VR projects and 72 % aligning them with curricular objectives. Teachers reported increased confidence and a shift from users to creators of VR content, though challenges remained regarding subject-specific examples, limited time for mastering advanced tools, and the need for sustained institutional support. The study offers a scalable model for professional development in immersive learning and underscores the importance of structured training for sustainable VR adoption.