Efficacy and Engagement With an Immersive Virtual Learning Experience of the Citric Acid Cycle

Bianca C. Braga; William Hurst; John Barrow; John Long; Gregory C. Shearer; Joanna K. Hodges; Olivia Lawler; Ravi Patel; Terry Schiavone; Travis D. Masterson

doi:10.1002/bmb.70001

Efficacy and Engagement With an Immersive Virtual Learning Experience of the Citric Acid Cycle

Bianca C. Braga, William Hurst, John Barrow, John Long, Gregory C. Shearer, Joanna K. Hodges, Olivia Lawler, Ravi Patel, Terry Schiavone, Travis D. Masterson

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

This randomized controlled trial assessed the comparative effectiveness of a biochemistry education program delivered through an immersive virtual reality (iVR) experience and traditional video-based instruction. Undergraduate students enrolled in three nutrition courses from a large R1 American university participated (n = 95). Students were randomly assigned to either an iVR condition (n = 48) or a video condition (n = 47). Students either viewed a nutritional biochemistry video or participated in an interactive iVR nutritional biochemistry experience. Nutritional biochemistry quiz scores improved, with a significant difference between the video condition and iVR condition (P = 0.05). Engagement scores were higher for the iVR (mean = 4.60) compared to the video (mean = 4.33; p = 0.02). Additionally, the total heuristic evaluation was higher for the iVR group compared with the video group (p = 0.01). Delivery of biochemistry education materials through iVR technology was shown to be more engaging than traditional video-based instruction.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	500-508
Number of pages	9
Journal	Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education
Volume	53
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/bmb.70001
State	Published - Sep 1 2025

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Biochemistry
Molecular Biology

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10.1002/bmb.70001

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title = "Efficacy and Engagement With an Immersive Virtual Learning Experience of the Citric Acid Cycle",

abstract = "This randomized controlled trial assessed the comparative effectiveness of a biochemistry education program delivered through an immersive virtual reality (iVR) experience and traditional video-based instruction. Undergraduate students enrolled in three nutrition courses from a large R1 American university participated (n = 95). Students were randomly assigned to either an iVR condition (n = 48) or a video condition (n = 47). Students either viewed a nutritional biochemistry video or participated in an interactive iVR nutritional biochemistry experience. Nutritional biochemistry quiz scores improved, with a significant difference between the video condition and iVR condition (P = 0.05). Engagement scores were higher for the iVR (mean = 4.60) compared to the video (mean = 4.33; p = 0.02). Additionally, the total heuristic evaluation was higher for the iVR group compared with the video group (p = 0.01). Delivery of biochemistry education materials through iVR technology was shown to be more engaging than traditional video-based instruction.",

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AU - Hodges, Joanna K.

AU - Lawler, Olivia

AU - Patel, Ravi

AU - Schiavone, Terry

AU - Masterson, Travis D.

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Efficacy and Engagement With an Immersive Virtual Learning Experience of the Citric Acid Cycle

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