Practicing Traffic Safety Education through Town Planning in a Virtual Environment: Focusing on Learners’ Thoughts and Actions in their Daily Lives

Abstract

It is necessary to develop human resources that have the ability to drive us toward a new society—Society 5.0. Therefore, it will be a challenge to enhance maker-centered learning opportunities and accumulate knowledge on learning effects. The utilization of virtual reality (VR) technology in town planning can make people think about its connection with their daily lives. This study focuses on “Maker Education” that assumes the importance of human resource development for Society 5.0. The aim is to show the possibilities of town planning in a virtual environment. The learning effects of this practice are manifested in the relationship between the activities in the virtual environment and learners’ thoughts and actions in their daily lives. As a result, participants in this study showed high motivation and interest in VR content production. The participants set up a traffic safety facility while imagining their daily lives. Many of the participants evidently thought about the role and purpose of traffic safety facilities in their daily lives.