• What is the topic of your action research?

  My action research topic is integrating Virtual Reality (VR) headsets into classrooms for career exploration. With technology rapidly changing, VR helps stimulate students' brains with relevant tools.
   

• What is the purpose of your study?

  My goal is for high school seniors to be better prepared for life and the real world after graduation in whatever career path they choose. ​My research aims to see if students using VR headsets select their high school career path that goes into their original career interest or choose a different path from the simulation they received from VR training. The end goal is to see if funds are being used wisely on VR technology vs. the traditional curriculum and if CTE courses are reaching their full potential in setting students up for college and career success. 
   

• What is your research question?

  In what ways does embedding VR technology experiences in the curriculum affect 12th grade students' transition from secondary education to life after graduation?
   

• What is your research design (Qualitative, Quantitative, or Mixed Methods)
  
  I’ve chosen both qualitative and quantitative methods for my research. Both data types will allow me to view data from both methods for a well-rounded analysis. 
  
   

• Why did you choose this design?
  
  By choosing both qualitative and quantitative methods, we can better understand whether the current use of technology is outdated or worth investing in the latest resources to enhance classroom engagement. 
  
   

• What data will you collect?
  
  The qualitative data will allow us to focus on and explore subjective experiences, insights, and meanings through non-numerical data. We can gather more data from student interviews, teacher observations, focus groups, and open-ended survey responses.
  
  The quantitative data will allow us to determine what percentage of students felt more college career/ trade school ready based on the VR curriculum compared to those who did not use it. We would ask: Do they feel more prepared? Are they still interested in the same opportunities they had initially planned for?
  
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• What types of measurement will you use?
  I’ll use a combination of formative and summative assessments to assess the effectiveness of technology integration.

  • Formative: Pre-interest questions (how interested in careers before using VR):​

    1. On a scale of 1-5, how interested are you in your chosen career path? (1 being not interested and five being very interested)

    2. What traditional methods or tools have you found most effective in preparing for your future career? (Please provide examples.)

    3. How do you believe that hands-on experience or real-world interactions have contributed to your career readiness compared to virtual experiences? (Please explain your thoughts.)

    4. Do you think that the absence of VR technology in your curriculum limits your understanding of your future career? Why or why not?

    5. What additional resources or support do you need to enhance your preparedness for your chosen career path? (Please list any resources or areas of support.)
        

  • Summative: ​Post-interest questions (how interested they are in careers after using VR):

    1. On a scale of 1 to 5, how confident do you feel about your career readiness after experiencing VR technology? (1 being not confident at all, and 5 being very confident)

    2. In what specific ways do you believe that VR technology has enhanced your understanding of your future career? (Please provide examples or experiences.)

    3. How has your engagement in class activities using VR technology influenced your interest in pursuing your chosen career path? (Please explain your thoughts.)

    4. Do you think that VR technology provides realistic experiences that can better prepare you for real-world challenges in your future career? Why or why not?

    5. What additional skills or knowledge do you feel you need to develop in conjunction with VR technology to feel fully prepared for your career? (Please list any skills or areas of expertise.
       
        

• What is the focus of your lit review?
  My literature review will focus on whether incorporating VR technology into the curriculum will better prepare students for future career goals than traditional learning methods. 
  
  I unpack the following constructs that are relevant to this research study:

  • Do they feel more prepared?

  • Are they still interested in the same opportunities they had initially planned for?

  • How does VR technology influence students' engagement and motivation in learning?

  • What skills do students believe they acquire through VR experiences compared to traditional methods?

  • How do students perceive the effectiveness of VR technology in enhancing their understanding of complex concepts?

  • What are the differences in retention of information between students using VR technology and those using traditional learning methods?

  • How does the use of VR technology impact students' collaborative skills and teamwork in a learning environment?

  • Are there notable differences in career aspirations among students exposed to VR technology versus those who are not?

  • What feedback do students provide regarding their experiences with VR technology in relation to their career readiness?

  • How do educators perceive the integration of VR technology in terms of its impact on student learning outcomes?

​With this action research, I seek to investigate those commonalities that will influence a “true framework”.