Little Learners Go 360: Evaluating the Impact of 360° Videos on Kindergarten Students’ Understanding of Wild Animals

Abstract

In recent years, 360° videos have gained the attention of researchers investigating their educational potential. Given the ongoing debate about their impact on learning, particularly with young students, where existing research is minimal, a comprehensive study was conducted to evaluate their effectiveness relative to other media forms. The study followed a within-subjects design and involved 44 kindergarten students learning about wild animals over nine sessions. The 360° videos were compared to printed materials and conventional videos. Evaluation tests were used for measuring knowledge acquisition, while questionnaires were used for collecting data related to students’ motivation, enjoyment/positive feelings, immersion, and ease of use. The findings suggest that, compared to printed materials, 360° videos enhance knowledge acquisition. However, this advantage does not extend to comparisons with conventional videos. Similarly, while enjoyment and motivation were higher for 360° videos compared to printed materials, they did not surpass those associated with conventional videos. Despite their potential, 360° videos were deemed the least easy to use, likely due to the employment of low-cost HMDs. Immersion emerged as the only factor where 360° videos excelled, demonstrating a notable influence on learning outcomes. The implications of the study are also discussed.