Promoting international high-school students' Chinese language learning achievements and perceptions: A mind mapping-based spherical video-based virtual reality learning system in Chinese language courses

BackgroundAs adequate support, virtual reality (VR) has been increasingly introduced into the classroom to help students learn a new language. However, empirical studies exploring the educational potential of using 360 degrees spherical video-based virtual reality (SVVR) in high-school Chinese language classrooms are still lacking. ObjectivesA mind mapping-based SVVR learning system is proposed for international high-school students' Chinese courses and examines its effects on improving Chinese learning achievements and perceptions among Grade 10 students who learn Chinese as a foreign language. MethodsThis study adopted a quasi-experiment design. Participants (N = 66) were assigned to one of three conditions: mind mapping-based SVVR (MMBSVVR), conventional SVVR (CSVVR), or traditional lecturing (TL). Our mixed-method approach employed pre-and post-tests to measure Chinese learning achievements, questionnaires to measure Chinese learning motivation, problem-solving ability, and self-efficacy, and semi-structured interviews to further explore students' feelings and attitudes about Chinese courses in corresponding learning environments. Results and ConclusionsThe results showed that the MMBSVVR classroom significantly improved high students' Chinese learning achievements in Chinese vocabulary and making sentence, problem-solving ability, and self-efficacy. Moreover, SVVR stimulates students' learning interest and class participation, and mind mapping provides students with a clear guide to arrange the knowledge. These findings help interpret the relationships between MMBSVVR and learning achievements, Chinese learning motivation, problem-solving ability, and self-efficacy in an international high school Chinese courses, thus providing insight on integrating MMBSVVR into existing classrooms.