Publications
Some of my recent and featured publications - most are peer reviewed!
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7584-0245
Conference Article
Origami as a Means to Assess and Understand Learning Styles
Zhang, R., Cheng, Y., Qin, C., Rattadilok, P., Roadknight, C., Hadian, G.S., Thenara, J.M.
This study explores how sensed metrics and VARK learning preferences (Visual, Aural, Read/Write, Kinesthetic) relate to creating aesthetically pleasing origami, finding that Visual learners perform best. Multimodal learners (high in all VARK categories) show greater mental and physical engagement, leading to better short- and long-term performance, with EEG-measured mental activity being the strongest predictor of success.
Conference Article
The Impact of Different Teaching Methods, Moodle Access Frequency, and (Mis)matching of Learning Strategies towards Students’ Academic Success in Higher Education
Cheng, Y., Qin, C., Zhang, R., Rattadilok, P., Roadknight, C.M., Hadian, G.S. and Thenara, J.M.
Learning modes, online platform usage, and learning style alignment are examined in this study to understand their impact on Computer Science student performance, analyzing grades and online activity across varied educational settings to identify key factors influencing academic success.
Journal Article
A study of the virtual reality cybersickness impacts and improvement strategy towards the overall undergraduate students' virtual learning experience
Mareta, S., Thenara, J.M., Rivero, R. and Tan-Mullins, M.
This study investigates cybersickness in a VR-based virtual classroom at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China, finding that 47% of participants experienced symptoms, with 64% being female, and identifying virtual movement speed, perspective angle, and visual properties as key contributing factors. The results, analyzed using ANOVA F-tests, highlight the influence of gender and academic background on cybersickness severity, offering insights for VR developers to minimize symptoms and enhance teaching and learning effectiveness in higher education.
Undergraduate Dissertation
Mixed Reality (MR) in Education
Joseph M. THENARA, Supervised by Dr Boon Giin Lee
Mixed Reality (MR) enhances education by aiding visualisation in fields like engineering. This project explored MR in fire safety training via a Microsoft HoloLens2 app. A study with volunteers compared MR-based learning to traditional methods, assessed user experience, and offered recommendations for MR in education.
Conference Article
Virtual Reality-Based Immersive Digital Learning Resources: Initial Study of the Design Features Perception from Future Architects
Mareta, S., Hung-Lo-Sang, L.L.K, Tedjosaputro, M.A., Hadian, G.S., Rivero, R. and Thenara, J.M.
Increasing demands and needs of utilizing Virtual Reality (VR) technologies have pushed many commercial and non-commercial industries and institutions to innovate, including in the education sector. This paper presents a preliminary study of understanding the perception of undergraduate Architecture students in the first Sino-Foreign University in China of various design features.
Conference Article
Understanding the Cybersickness Effects of Using Virtual Reality-Based Classroom for Undergraduate Students: A Preliminary Study
Mareta, S., Mou, X., Nelson, H., Tan-Mullins, M., Thenara, J.M. and Rivero, R.
Motion sickness, as one of the long-standing key challenges of VR utilization, even in gaming, often becomes a barrier for VR users to fully engage with the content developed in the virtual world. Thus, this work presents a preliminary study on understanding the symptoms of motion sickness — which will be referred to later as ‘cybersickness’ — in the teaching and learning (T&L) context.