Classifying and modeling secondary students' active learning in a virtual learning environment through generated questions

The present research study investigated students' active learning activities at three time points during the use of a virtual learning environment (VLE) on cardiac anatomy and physiology. Because VLEs are not only immersive but also interactive, the user must engage with the instruction to move the instruction forward; thus, engaging the user in an active (rather than passive) educative experience. What types of active learning is garnered from such educational technologies, among secondary aged science learners, was the focus of the study. By using open-ended questioning and the active learning framework by Chi (2009), this research study collected students' questions they had about the science content which was then categorized inductively and deductively by active processes (activation of prior knowledge), constructive processes (garnering new knowledge), and interactive processes (creating new understandings beyond the scope of the curriculum). Results from coding questions from 151 secondary students (75 in sixth grade and 76 in ninth grade) revealed significance in sixth graders' abilities to progress from active processes to the higher and more sophisticated learning processes; significant changes were found among ninth graders to progress from active to constructive processes and from constructive to interactive learning processes. The presence of interactive processes suggests that VLEs are immersive, interactive, and able to foster robust science learning.