2023 Volume 63 Issue 3 Pages 457-471
The objectives of this study are twofold: first, to develop a method for creating Virtual Reality (VR) teaching materials on geological formations that is not only easier to create than conventional methods, but that can also better support spatial understanding of geological formations; second, to verify the effectiveness of the created VR teaching materials. To achieve the first objective, a method for creating VR teaching materials that combines 3D models and Google Earth was developed. To achieve the second objective, a class practice for 171 second grade students in a lower secondary school was conducted, verifying the effectiveness of the new method in terms of student usability and comprehension. The usability study suggested that the use of 3D models enables users to observe the details of geological formations. The investigation of the comprehension level also revealed that the 3D model, which enables the observation of strata from various directions, can support the students’ spatial recognition of strata. The efficacy of the newly developed VR teaching material was thus confirmed.
