Bringing Microbiology to Life in Museum: Using Mobile VR and LLM-Powered Virtual Character for Children's Science Learning

Although the increasing advantages of immersive technology-enhanced museum informal learning in children's science education, the application of mobile virtual reality (MVR) technology combined with large language models (LLM) in this environment has not yet been fully explored. Furthermore, virtual character, as an intelligent learning assistant, is capable of providing personalized guidance and instant feedback to children through natural language interactions, but its potential in museum learning has yet to be fully tapped. To address these gaps, this study investigates the effectiveness of integrating MVR with LLM-powered virtual character in promoting children's microbiology learning during museum activities. In this paper, the technology-enhanced POE (Prediction-observation-explanation) learning model was studied, and the corresponding MVR system was designed and developed to carry out microbial learning activities. A quasiexperimental design was used with 60 children aged 10-12. The experimental group learned via an MVR system combining LLM-powered virtual character, while the control group used traditional methods. Results showed the experimental group significantly outperformed the control group in both academic achievement and learning motivation, including attention, confidence, and satisfaction. This provides evidence for using immersive technologies in informal learning and offers insights into applying LLM-powered virtual character in science education.