VIRTUAL & AUGMENTED REALITY TECHNOLOGY HELP LEARNING OF BIOLOGY IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Abstract

Some Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects in secondary schools or high schools, such as biology, physics, or mathematics are considered tough to students. It is due to the lack of tools to visualise details or effects in the learning process, with traditional learning materials of textbooks, blackboards, and static models. The classroom education is evolving with the technology advancements. Development works in three-dimensional (3D) graphics rendering, virtual and augmented reality (VAR) have been reported to provide interactive visualisations for classroom education. Teaching of the subject of biology is one of such examples in the classroom education which could benefit to the emerging technologies with different types of supportive tools. This project is developed to apply virtual and augmented reality technology-enhanced learning (VARTEL) in biology education of secondary schools. Pilot study has been performed with the collaborating secondary schools. The VARTEL technologies developed in the research project can be rolled out to more mainstream schools in Singapore and other countries.

Interactive Virtual Reality Game for Online Learning of Science Subject in Primary Schools

“…(1) / (2) / Both / Neither (4) After playing the serious game, I can recognize the items in electric circuits. Yes / No (5) Playing the serious game helps me better understand about series circuits. Yes / No (6) Playing the serious game helps me better understand about parallel circuits.…”

“…Some topics in the science subject in primary schools are considered tough to students, due to abstract concepts or dynamic processes. It is difficult to visualize or interact in the learning process, similar to other STEM subjects [5]. Such challenges will become severer with online learning or home-based learning, as time of physical hands-on experiments reduces significantly.…”