Virtual Tours, Real Impact: An Investigation of Student Perceptions of Interactive Virtual Tours as an Agricultural Science Informational Tool for Career Exploration

With traditional field trips facing challenges such as budget constraints, time limitations, and geographic inaccessibility, interactive virtual tours (IVTs) have emerged as a promising alternative. As students navigate the complex landscape of career exploration, there is a growing need for practical career guidance tools. Virtual tours have emerged as a potential solution for providing immersive, informative, and accessible experiences for career exploration, particularly for agricultural STEM careers. The study assessed how students perceive IVTs regarding their usefulness, ease of use, enjoyment, and future adoption. It also examines how such tours influence students’ attitudes toward veterinary science as both a subject and a career and their confidence in their ability to attend and persist in veterinary school. The current study utilized a convergent parallel mixed methods approach, integrating quantitative and qualitative data to understand student perceptions comprehensively. The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) was utilized as the theoretical framework to understand students’ perceptions of a veterinary science school virtual tour as an informational tool. Social Cognitive Career Theory’s (SCCT) concepts of college-going and career self-efficacy were explored separately. The sample for this study consisted of undergraduate students at Texas Tech University majoring in animal science interested in or intending to attend veterinary science school. Findings revealed virtual tours can help guide students' perceptions of veterinary science with the ability to enhance their confidence and motivation to pursue this career path. Participants reported the virtual tour increased their knowledge of the veterinary school, was easy to navigate, and was an enjoyable experience. However, this study also highlights areas for improvement in the design and content of virtual tours to maximize their effectiveness as career exploration tools. This study concludes that IVTs hold significant potential in educational and recruitment contexts, offering students a unique opportunity to explore career paths in ways that are otherwise inaccessible due to logistical barriers.