GenAI-LIVE: Generative AI-enabled Laboratories in Immersive Virtual Environments

Virtual laboratories, especially those using Virtual Reality (VR), are becoming popular across different educational levels, providing an immersive medium for learning laboratory procedures. They have been integrated as learning objects into MOOC platforms to enrich the learning experience for MOOC learners. However, providing personalized feedback in this context poses significant challenges, as instructors cannot offer real-time guidance to effectively support learners in understanding experimental techniques and safety protocols. With the rise of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI), new opportunities have emerged to support self-learning in VR Labs. This work implemented a VR Lab AI tutor to deliver real-time and personalized feedback in a biochemistry VR Lab. Through user studies, it is shown that the AI tutor can assist self-learning, allowing students to be engaged effectively in the learning process of the laboratory experiment. The insights gathered from the user studies are summarized as design guidelines for developing AI tutor-enabled VR Labs across various subject areas, aiming to enhance immersive learning experiences for MOOC learners