Educational Seismology through an Immersive Virtual Reality Game: Design, Development and Pilot Evaluation of User Experience
Virtual Reality (VR), especially in its immersive form, is a promising technology employed to support education and training in various fields. VR offers unique opportunities to experience situations and environments that are otherwise inaccessible or risky. Educational Seismology aims to inform and...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Education Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/13/11/1088 |
| _version_ | 1797459529220227072 |
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| author | Vaia Maragkou Maria Rangoussi Ioannis Kalogeras Nikolaos S. Melis |
| author_facet | Vaia Maragkou Maria Rangoussi Ioannis Kalogeras Nikolaos S. Melis |
| author_sort | Vaia Maragkou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Virtual Reality (VR), especially in its immersive form, is a promising technology employed to support education and training in various fields. VR offers unique opportunities to experience situations and environments that are otherwise inaccessible or risky. Educational Seismology aims to inform and educate the public on earthquakes; to this end, the use of VR is investigated as an attractive solution. <i>VRQuake</i> is an immersive VR application designed and developed for Educational Seismology purposes. <i>VRQuake</i> is structured in five consecutive scenes and is organized as a game. It allows users to interact with virtual objects in real time and apply learned rules and good practices in reaction to an earthquake, thus providing a dynamic learning environment. A pilot evaluation of <i>VRQuake</i> is performed by volunteer university students who play the game and then answer a questionnaire with closed- and open-type questions referring mostly to the user experience. Analysis of the answers has shown positive results regarding usability, clarity and acceptance of the application. Answers are also encouraging as to the educational potential of <i>VRQuake</i>. Furthermore, qualitative analysis of open-type questions has contributed user suggestions and demands that point to interesting new directions for further improvement of user experience and learning outcomes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:53:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4ca387938d8d40879655abe8de4495ce |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-7102 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:53:40Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Education Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-4ca387938d8d40879655abe8de4495ce2023-11-24T14:38:27ZengMDPI AGEducation Sciences2227-71022023-10-011311108810.3390/educsci13111088Educational Seismology through an Immersive Virtual Reality Game: Design, Development and Pilot Evaluation of User ExperienceVaia Maragkou0Maria Rangoussi1Ioannis Kalogeras2Nikolaos S. Melis3Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, University of West Attica, 12241 Egaleo, GreeceDepartment of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, University of West Attica, 12241 Egaleo, GreeceInstitute of Geodynamics, National Observatory of Athens, 11810 Athens, GreeceInstitute of Geodynamics, National Observatory of Athens, 11810 Athens, GreeceVirtual Reality (VR), especially in its immersive form, is a promising technology employed to support education and training in various fields. VR offers unique opportunities to experience situations and environments that are otherwise inaccessible or risky. Educational Seismology aims to inform and educate the public on earthquakes; to this end, the use of VR is investigated as an attractive solution. <i>VRQuake</i> is an immersive VR application designed and developed for Educational Seismology purposes. <i>VRQuake</i> is structured in five consecutive scenes and is organized as a game. It allows users to interact with virtual objects in real time and apply learned rules and good practices in reaction to an earthquake, thus providing a dynamic learning environment. A pilot evaluation of <i>VRQuake</i> is performed by volunteer university students who play the game and then answer a questionnaire with closed- and open-type questions referring mostly to the user experience. Analysis of the answers has shown positive results regarding usability, clarity and acceptance of the application. Answers are also encouraging as to the educational potential of <i>VRQuake</i>. Furthermore, qualitative analysis of open-type questions has contributed user suggestions and demands that point to interesting new directions for further improvement of user experience and learning outcomes.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/13/11/1088educational seismologyearthquakeprotection measuresimmersive virtual realityinteractionpresence |
| spellingShingle | Vaia Maragkou Maria Rangoussi Ioannis Kalogeras Nikolaos S. Melis Educational Seismology through an Immersive Virtual Reality Game: Design, Development and Pilot Evaluation of User Experience Education Sciences educational seismology earthquake protection measures immersive virtual reality interaction presence |
| title | Educational Seismology through an Immersive Virtual Reality Game: Design, Development and Pilot Evaluation of User Experience |
| title_full | Educational Seismology through an Immersive Virtual Reality Game: Design, Development and Pilot Evaluation of User Experience |
| title_fullStr | Educational Seismology through an Immersive Virtual Reality Game: Design, Development and Pilot Evaluation of User Experience |
| title_full_unstemmed | Educational Seismology through an Immersive Virtual Reality Game: Design, Development and Pilot Evaluation of User Experience |
| title_short | Educational Seismology through an Immersive Virtual Reality Game: Design, Development and Pilot Evaluation of User Experience |
| title_sort | educational seismology through an immersive virtual reality game design development and pilot evaluation of user experience |
| topic | educational seismology earthquake protection measures immersive virtual reality interaction presence |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/13/11/1088 |
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