Deep and Interactive Learning in Virtual Simulation Environments: A Review of Assessment Tools, Impacts, and Challenges

Abstract

Virtual simulation experiments have become a technical means in higher education to simulate the real world to help students acquire skills or experience. They provide a safe and interactive learning environment for students to practice and have been regarded as a beneficial supplementary tool for learning. However, the current virtual simulation experiments still show the gaps between virtual simulation environments and real-world environments. This systematic literature review searched the research articles(2000-2024) across the database of Web of Science, Scopus, and ProQuest, focusing on the deep learning and interactive learning of college students in the virtual simulation environment, aimed to examine the assessment tools for evaluating the students’ learning process or outcomes, the findings or impact of virtual simulations on learning outcomes, the specific features of virtual simulation environments contribute to deep and interactive learning and the challenges or limitations of using virtual simulations in higher education. The review pointed out the need to integrate virtual simulation with traditional teaching methods and learning tools to build a multi-dimensional(cognition + behavior + emotion), dynamic(process + result), and cross-environment(virtual + real) system. Educators, technology developers, and assessment experts must work together to upgrade assessment from a judgment tool to part of learning.