The advantage of VLs lies in their capacity for simulating real-world lab experiences within a fully immersive digital environment, yet the uptake in rural schools in developing countries remains... Show More

The advantage of VLs lies in their capacity for simulating real-world lab experiences within a fully immersive digital environment, yet the uptake in rural schools in developing countries remains low. To understand this paradox, this study explores the perceptions of seven secondary school science teachers in a rural district in South Africa. Through a qualitative case-study methodology guided by the interpretive paradigm, this research adopts a phenomenological approach to gain insights into teachers' attitudes, understandings, and the factors influencing their acceptance or rejection of this technology. The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology is employed as a theoretical framework. The study finds that despite potential educational benefits, the actual use of VLs is largely influenced by teacher perceptions and experiences, rooted in context-specific challenges. The findings reveal that teachers perceive VL as a beneficial and practical tool providing access to high-quality lab equipment necessary for student experiments, which could otherwise be cost-prohibitive.

Due to the rapid development of internet technology, the field of education is undergoing a revolutionary change. The purpose of this study is to explore how new media mobile terminals affect the... Show More

Due to the rapid development of internet technology, the field of education is undergoing a revolutionary change. The purpose of this study is to explore how new media mobile terminals affect the learning style of college students, paying special attention to the changes in learners' participation and autonomous learning ability. Traditional learning methods have not sufficiently met the needs of contemporary college students, and the rise of new media mobile terminals has provided convenient for learning anytime and anywhere. Digitally competent college students have gradually become less dependent on traditional learning and turned to more independent learning methods. This study will analyze the specific influence of new media mobile terminals on learners' participation and autonomous learning abilities in order to provide useful insights for innovation in education and optimization of college students' learning methods.