Profiling Students by Perceived Immersion: Insights from VR Engine Room Simulator Trials in Maritime Higher Education

Applied Sciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(7), P. 3786 - 3786

Published: March 30, 2025

Research on students’ immersive experiences with fully virtual reality (VR) technologies is extensively documented across diverse educational settings; however, in maritime higher education, it remains relatively underrepresented. Therefore, by using segmentation analysis, this study aims to profile engineering students at the Faculty of Maritime Studies, University Rijeka, perceived immersion (PIMM) within a Head-Mounted Display (HMD) VR engine room simulator and explore differences their learning benefits (PLBs), future behavioural intentions (FBI), satisfaction (SAT) HMD-VR experience. The sample comprised 84 participants who engaged preliminary trials. A non-hierarchical (K-mean) cluster combined Elbow method, identified two distinct homogeneous groups: Immersionists Conformists. results an independent t-test indicated that exhibited significantly scores regarding benefits, intentions, overall than underscore significance understanding subjective perception implementation further development education training (MET) curricula. However, as based specific case particular context, result may not directly apply broader student population.

Language: Английский

Exploring the Perceived Ease of Use of an Immersive VR Engine Room Simulator among Maritime Students: A Segmentation Approach

Applied Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(18), P. 8208 - 8208

Published: Sept. 12, 2024

The integration of innovative technologies, such as Virtual Reality (VR), into maritime education presents a substantial challenge but also offers significant potential for enhancing training and knowledge transmission. This study aims to contribute the existing body by providing segmented insights students’ Perceived Ease Use (PEU) an immersive engine room VR simulator. analysed sample 58 students from Faculty Maritime Studies at University Rijeka, covering undergraduate, graduate, specialized programs. Through hierarchical non-hierarchical cluster analyses, two distinct segments were identified named Proactivists Moderates. findings reveal differences between extracted sub-groups regarding (i) perceived benefits using simulator in learning education, (ii) future intention use technology, (iii) overall experience. Study can directly aid educators software developers further implementation technology education.

Language: Английский