The development of teaching tools for immersive educational experiences is gaining an huge popularity. The hype around virtual reality (VR) led to an extraordinary development of VR hardware and software, mainly driven by the video games industry. The potential of games in education is being explored in classroom activities since gamification is a great way of enhancing student engagement, mainly due to the games intrinsic motivation. The current COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the importance of alternative, non presential, teaching methodologies. In this context VR is foreseen as key tool in future eduction. A few examples of virtual chemistry resources are already available, most of them requiring a computer with special features. However, very recently an all-in-one (wireless, android-based) VR headset was released, the Oculus Quest, thus turning VR-assisted teaching a simple and fascinating task.
Lesson on Atomic Orbital Theory from the General Chemistry course, an innovative educational program developed by SAMA Learning at Chico State University, California, USA.
VIRTUAL REALITY FOR CHEMICAL EDUCATION
• Teaching science through video games, Nature Chem. 2017, 9, 97.
• Virtual reality game to teach organic chemistry, Proceedings 10th Conference on Videogame Sciences and Arts 2018, 215.
• Interactive molecular dynamics in virtual reality from quantum chemistry to drug binding: An open-source multi-person framework, J. Chem. Phys. 2019, 150, 220901.
• Chemical exploration with virtual reality in organic teaching laboratories, J. Chem. Educ. 2019, 96, 9, 1961.
• Haptic virtual reality and immersive learning for enhanced organic chemistry instruction, Virtual Reality 2019, 23, 363.
• Production and evaluation of a realistic immersive virtual reality organic chemistry laboratory experience: Infrared spectroscopy, J. Chem. Educ. 2020, 97, 1, 258.
• Overcoming physical separation during COVID-19 using virtual reality in organic chemistry laboratories, J. Chem. Educ. 2020, 97, 9, 3060.
CHEMISTRY RESOURCES
Standalone headset-based tools
Nano-me
General Chemistry VR Course
Palladius Studios
Other resources
ACS Virtual Chemistry VR Organic Chemistry Lab Experiences