Engaging Rural High School Students in STEM Utilizing Graduate Mentors, Virtual Reality and Case‐based Learning
Katelyn Brown, Natascha Heise, Jordan Nelson, Heather A. Hall, Kenneth R. Ivie, Carolyn A. Meyer, Chad M. Eitel, J P Walrond, Tod R. Clapp · The FASEB Journal · 2021
High school students exposed to early mentorship opportunities and targeted development of critical thinking skills are better prepared for success in higher education. Rural high school students can face barriers that limit access to content experts and scholastic growth. Here we demonstrate the use of a virtual reality (VR) curriculum as a novel method of instruction, fostering mentorship and the development of critical thinking skills. Graduate mentors remotely connected with high school students to facilitate learning using a virtual, dissectible cadaver and volumized medical imaging (CT and MRI). The curriculum features weekly case‐based learning exercises, providing students an opportunity to develop problem solving, critical thinking and oral presentation skills. We hypothesized that VR is an effective method of connecting high school students to graduate mentors and novel STEM learning opportunities, while the VR case‐based curriculum enhances critical thinking skill and helps prepare students to succeed in higher education. Qualitative data assessed critical thinking, problem‐solving skills, student motivation, mentorship engagement, and satisfaction utilizing the VR program as compared to 2D methods. Quantitative data assessed progression of student spatial abilities during the semester. Preliminary findings suggest an improvement in student interest and engagement while promoting intellectual engagement with graduate mentors. Research on the implementation of virtual reality in education is in its early stages, but there is a growing need to investigate the effectiveness of technology in overcoming barriers to learning among high school students. This course is an early exploration of how VR can enhance STEM teaching, improve student learning, and prepare students for success in higher education.