Research Suggests Students Learn More When Working Together in Virtual Reality Games

With the help of a virtual reality game their professor created, some students at Cornell University have gathered evidence that interacting with other people in a game-playing atmosphere may help them learn more.

Using a language-learning game, "Crystalize," created by Cornell Assistant Professor of Computer Science Erik Andersen, a group of students conducted a study with two different groups in which players, using an avatar, take a virtual tour of Japan.

In the game, which is intended to help students learn Japanese — although it is designed to teach other languages as well — players go on "quests" to learn new words by watching game characters talk to each other. For instance, as one character walks away, another that is left behind says, "Sayonara." The hope is that the player understands "Sayonara" means "goodbye." At that point, the player can drag the word from a speech balloon into an inventory of terms that can later be used to construct sentences.

Naturally, players collect points by completing quests, as is so often the case in role-playing games.

In the research project led by Ph.D. candidate Gabriel Culbertson, 48 students were recruited to play two versions of the game. In one group, students were connected via a chat interface with another player who could, if they wanted, offer advice on how to play. The second group played a version of the game in which they were definitely required to collaborate on quests.

The research group found the students in the second so-called “high-interdependence” group spent more time communicating and, as a consequence, learned more words.

The research then expanded to a larger group of 186 Reddit users who were learning Japanese. After reviewing gameplay logs, interviews and Reddit posts, they found that those who spent the most time engaged in the game learned more new words and phrases.

The Cornell research team presented its research results at the Association for Computing Machinery Conference on Human-Computer Interaction in May in San Jose, CA.

The game's designers plan to look for ways to create longer-term engagement with the game since learning a language is a long-term process.

About the Author

Michael Hart is a Los Angeles-based freelance writer and the former executive editor of THE Journal.

Featured

  • glowing blue nodes connected by thin lines in an abstract network on a dark gray to black gradient background

    Report: Generative AI Taking Over SD-WAN Management

    In a few years, nearly three quarters of network operators will use generative AI for SD-WAN management, according to a new report from research firm Gartner.

  • abstract pattern with interconnected blue nodes and lines forming neural network shapes, overlaid with semi-transparent bars and circular data points

    Data, AI Lead Educause Top 10 List for 2025

    Educause recently released its annual Top 10 list of the most important technology issues facing colleges and universities in the coming year, with a familiar trio leading the bunch: data, analytics, and AI. But the report presents these critical technologies through a new lens: restoring trust in higher education.

  • abstract image representing AI tools for reading and writing

    McGraw Hill Introduces 2 Gen AI Learning Tools

    Global education company McGraw Hill has added two new generative AI tools to help personalize learning experiences for both K–12 and higher ed students, according to a news release.

  • abstract image of fragmented, floating geometric shapes with holographic lock icons and encrypted code, set against a dark, glitchy background with intersecting circuits and swirling light trails

    Education Sector a Top Target for Mobile Malware Attacks

    Mobile and IoT/OT cyber threats continue to grow in number and complexity, becoming more targeted and sophisticated, according to a new report from Zscaler.