Argumentation in a virtual reality environment: an approach with future Physics teachers

In this work, we investigate the use of virtual reality for teaching Physics and its learning potential from an argumentative point of view. For this purpose, we created a simulation on the Sandbox platform concerning the Oblique Launch of Objects besides a problem question to be answered: There are two objects in the simulation environment, A and B. When making launches to hit them, which target is reached in the shortest flight time? This simulation was performed by 14 undergraduate students of Science courses at a Brazilian university, during a course about didactic materials. The students solved the problem by working in pairs on different computers, interacting with each order by a chat on the same program. The messages were recorded and were exported to sheets to be analyzed by the Rainbow Analytical Framework, which is configured as a tool for the analysis of argumentative discussions in Collaborative Learning environments. The results showed an assertive movement by the undergraduate students to solve the problem, with a predominance of actions focused on argumentative practice. Such results demonstrate the potential of virtual reality to the immersive learning of Physics concepts, as well as favoring the approach of future teachers to the demands placed by an increasingly computerized society, such as the Virtual World.