BECE. Newsletter 

Vol.17, No.1, 2024, BECE 1855 

 

 

 

 

Does Enhanced Immersion Improve Learning 

Outcomes: The Impact of Immersive Experience on 

Learning Outcomes and Its Mechanism 

By Li, W., Qian, L., Feng, Q., & Huang, J. 
Correspondence to: Huang Jing, Central China Normal University, China. E-

mail: 631900910@qq.com 

MMERSIVE experience can affect the learner’s sense of presence, cog-

nitive load, and emotions, which may facilitate or impede learning. 

Based on the existing literature on the application of immersive technol-

ogy, this study conducted experimental research on the impact of immersion 

levels (immersive virtual reality or desk-top VR video) in fire safety educa-

tion on learning outcomes, cognitive load, emotion valence and arousal, user 

presence, and learning motivation among college students. These variables 

were measured by relevant knowledge tests and scales. 

Research findings show that: 

• Immersive VR was more effective in eliciting positive, high-arousal 

emotions and enhancing presence and learning motivation, whereas 

there was no significant difference in the effects on cognitive load and 

instant and long-term knowledge retention between immersive VR and 

desk-top VR videos. 

• Emotional valence, the sense of presence, and learning motivation me-

diated the relation between immersive VR experiences and student 

learning outcomes. 

Implications: 

• In teaching practice, the choice of VR technologies should be related to 

the specific learning tasks, since immersive VR contributes to enhanc-

ing learning experience, but not necessarily learning outcomes. 

• In cases where VR head-mounted display is unavailable or VR headsets 

are inconvenient to wear in classroom teaching, desktop VR videos can 

serve as an alternative, for they are comparable with immersive VR as 

facilitators of student mastery of knowledge and skills. 

• It is important to control cognitive and affective factors in the process of 

instruction to optimize student learning experience and outcomes. 

 
Source: E-education Research, 2023; 44(12):55-63. 

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