Using Virtual Reality Simulations to Encourage Reflective Learning in Construction Workers

• Published in: Learning and Collaboration Technologies. Human and Technology Ecosystems Vol. 12206; pp. 422 - 434
• Main Authors: Fiala, Eileen, Jelonek, Markus, Herrmann, Thomas
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Springer International Publishing AG 2020; Springer International Publishing
• Series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science
• Subjects: Construction site safety; Reflective learning; Virtual reality
• ISBN: 3030505057; 9783030505059
• ISSN: 0302-9743; 1611-3349
• DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-50506-6_29

Improvement of work safety measures and trainings are important elements to enhance the sensibility for hazardous situations and decrease work accidents. Virtual reality (VR) simulation-based trainings have been shown to be a promising approach to support experience-based learning, as the virtual environments can simulate realistic work environments. To investigate to which extent reflective learning can be supported by using VR simulations, this exploratory study combines a VR simulation on a construction site with subsequent semi-structured interviews to induce reflections in participants. Results of the qualitative content analysis show, that a reflection process about work safety aspects benefits from combining VR simulation with a subsequent interview. Numerous reflections on the content of the simulation coupled to own past (real-life) experience were induced, indicating the tested combination to be a promising learning approach to teach work safety aspects that may help to raise the awareness about work safety at construction sites.