Beyond traditional classrooms: Comparing virtual reality applications and their influence on students’ motivation

This study examines the impact of virtual reality (VR) on student motivation in education, emphasizing its potential to create immersive learning environments that enhance engagement and learning outcomes. By adopting a quantitative approach, the research investigates the motivational effects of two VR applications among 52 high school students in Mexico, exploring variations in motivation across four dimensions—attention, relevance, satisfaction, and confidence—and assessing gender-based differences. Results indicate improvements in all dimensions, particularly in attention and satisfaction, which are crucial for intrinsic motivation. Female students showed superior results in all dimensions, suggesting gender-specific impacts. The study underscores VR’s role in fostering motivation and offers practical recommendations for integrating VR technology in educational settings to maximize their benefits for student engagement and motivation. Possible limitations that should be considered to optimize its use are also identified. This research aims to provide valuable guidance for educators, researchers, and educational institutions seeking to harness VR technology for improved engagement and motivation in education.