Abstract:

In the last two decades, researchers adapted the Method of Loci (MoL) as a learning method in virtual reality (VR). Within MoL a learner associates learning units with objects in an environment – the memory palace. First documentations of the learning success of this method are found in antiquity [1]. Nowadays, the method is adapted digitally to virtual rooms. The virtual environment was utilized first on a desktop and recently with devices, like VR glasses. The latter enhances the immersion of the user into the virtual space. Diverse virtual scenarios and levels of immersion were applied in (pilot) studies [2]. To learn a classical (imagined) memory palace takes between two hours and two days [3]. One important advantage of the application in VR is that the learner becomes familiar with a memory palace in a very short time. Due to several study results that imply a positive effect on learning success in contrast to other learning methods, e.g. learning words from a list [4], we are interested in adapting virtually supported MoL in general education. Less is known about the middle and long-term learning success of complex topics, e.g. law or abstracts of scholarly articles [5], [6]. Additional features like tagging of learning materials or recommender systems within the virtual space are possible applications in a virtual memory palace that are rarely investigated so far.

In this contribution, we are going to present the results of a systematic literature review of studies, examining the effectiveness and efficiency of the application of the MoL in combination with virtual rooms. The various implementations differ greatly, therefore our aim is to categorize them along multiple dimensions, like interactivity, designability, applied technology, and immersion. Our goal is to identify factors and Best-Practices having a positive influence on the usability and effectiveness of the virtually supported MoL. Based on these, requirements for easily accessible virtual memory palaces are formulated to enable their use in educational settings.

References:
[1] T. O’Grady and C. Yildirim, “The Potential of Spatial Computing to Augment Memory: Investigating Recall in Virtual Memory Palaces,” 2019, pp. 414–422.
[2] A. Peeters and M. Segundo-Ortin, “Misplacing memories? An enactive approach to the virtual memory palace,” Conscious. Cogn., vol. 76, p. 102834, Nov. 2019, doi: 10.1016/j.concog.2019.102834.
[3] R.-B. S. Huttner J.-P., “AMCIS 2017 - America’s Conference on Information Systems: A Tradition of Innovation,” 2017.
[4] E. L. G. Legge, C. R. Madan, E. T. Ng, and J. B. Caplan, “Building a memory palace in minutes: Equivalent memory performance using virtual versus conventional environments with the Method of Loci,” Acta Psychol. (Amst)., vol. 141, no. 3, pp. 380–390, Nov. 2012, doi: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2012.09.002.
[5] A. Mastrogiorgio, F. Zaninotto, F. Maggi, E. Ricciardi, N. Lattanzi, and A. P. Malizia, “Enhancing Organizational Memory Through Virtual Memoryscapes: Does It Work?,” Front. Psychol., vol. 12, Aug. 2021, doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.683870.
[6] F. Yang, J. Qian, J. Novotny, D. Badre, C. D. Jackson, and D. H. Laidlaw, “A Virtual Reality Memory Palace Variant Aids Knowledge Retrieval from Scholarly Articles,” IEEE Trans. Vis. Comput. Graph., vol. 27, no. 12, pp. 4359–4373, Dec. 2021, doi: 10.1109/TVCG.2020.3009003.

Keywords:

Method of Loci, memory palace, virtual reality, teaching tool, literature review.