Date of Award
5-2026
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management
Committee Chair/Advisor
Matthew Browning
Committee Member
Robert Powell
Committee Member
Theresa Melton
Committee Member
Joshua Russell
Abstract
The rapid evolution of immersive technologies presents informal education settings with a complex dual challenge: while virtual reality (VR) offers compelling opportunities for engagement and experiential learning, its adoption demands significant institutional resources and may require a meaningful departure from established interpretive practice. As informal education institutions face decisions about whether to adopt emerging technologies, a critical gap remains in understanding how VR should be designed and integrated to serve both organizational missions and the needs of frontline interpreters and audiences. This dissertation moves beyond the technical novelty of VR to empirically examine its purposeful positioning within informal education settings, defined by free-choice, self-directed learning across contexts such as museums, heritage sites, zoos, aquariums, and national parks. Grounded in the principles of educational interpretation and experiential learning theory, this research argues that for VR to be effective in these contexts, it must function as a mission-aligned interpretive tool rather than a novel edutainment experience. Through a three-study, multi-phase design, this dissertation examines VR in informal education from multiple methodological perspectives, mapping the current research landscape, defining practitioner-centered design and development needs, and investigating the factors that drive or inhibit institutional adoption of VR. The findings of this research provide a holistic, empirically grounded assessment of VR's current status in informal education, contributing data-driven insights for practitioners and organizations navigating immersive technology decisions. Ultimately, this work advances a framework for understanding VR not as a technological novelty but as a purposeful extension of the interpretive mission, balancing the affordances of immersive technology with the human-centered values at the heart of informal education and interpretation.
Recommended Citation
Maynard, Allison, "Virtual Reality In Informal Education: Trends, Frameworks, And Implementation Strategies" (2026). All Dissertations. 4274.
https://open.clemson.edu/all_dissertations/4274
Author ORCID Identifier
https://orcid.org/0009-0005-9067-9751