Virtual reality for spatial skills training in architectural learning

Architecture education requires the practice and the design of form in both two and three dimensions as a key component in the generation of built objects. This practice is made possible through the training of spatial skills, which equip design professionals with the cognitive abilities that foster creativity. The present exploratory study analyzed the use of virtual reality for training spatial skills in students beginning their education in architecture. This technology enabled participants to identify categories associated with spatial perception, visualization, and spatial rotation through the design of a volumetric composition, which allowed for the assessment of the tool’s effectiveness in teaching form and space by facilitating interaction with digital objects and immersion as a learning experience. The study explored the versatility of virtual reality in promoting the integrated development of various spatial dimensions f rom the early stages of training, by directly engaging users in a hands-on learning process in a digital environment.