Agency and Knowledge in Practice: Why Trainers’ Attitude Matters in Virtual Simulation-based Training

DOI

10.2991/978-94-6239-817-7_4How to use a DOI?

Keywords

virtual simulations (VS); virtual simulation-based training (VSBT); technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK); attitude towards virtual simulations use (AVSU); teacher agency

Abstract

Immersive learning as virtual simulation-based training is increasingly recognised as an effective approach in safety-critical contexts. However, despite the pedagogical potential of this training, the implementation of VR technologies in teaching practice remains rather limited. This study examines the relationship between trainers’ technological pedagogical content knowledge, teacher agency, and attitude towards virtual simulation use to predict the actual virtual simulations use in teaching. The study is based on two independent questionnaire surveys conducted in 2022 (n = 47) and 2026 (n = 59) among staff in Estonian rescue college. Survey responses were analysed using descriptive statistics to assess the extent of virtual simulation use and binary logistic regression to identify factors associated with its adoption in training practice. The results indicate that neither knowledge nor agency significantly predict virtual simulations use in training. Simultaneously, attitude towards virtual simulations use emerged as a significant predictor. These findings suggest that the implementation of immersive learning in safety-critical training is not primarily driven by trainers’ knowledge or contextual factors, but by trainers’ perceptions of the relevance and value of the virtual simulation-based training.

Copyright

© 2026 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Stella Polikarpus
AU  - Marion-Jacqueline Vahtre
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/29
TI  - Agency and Knowledge in Practice: Why Trainers’ Attitude Matters in Virtual Simulation-based Training
BT  - Proceedings of the SAFAR Scientific Conference 2026 – Building Awareness through Immersive Learning (SSC-BAIL 2026)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 24
EP  - 39
SN  - 2667-128X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6239-817-7_4
DO  - 10.2991/978-94-6239-817-7_4
ID  - Polikarpus2026
ER  -