The Users' Views on Different Types of Instructional Materials Provided in Virtual Reality Technologies.

Abstract

Today, it is seen that developing technologies are tried to be used continuously in the learning environments. These technologies have rapidly been diversifying and changing. Recently, virtual reality technology has become one of the technologies that experts have often been dwelling on. The present research tries to determine users’ opinions and preferences on the utilization of different kinds of multimedia items (pictures, videos and games) in virtual reality goggles. In this context, participants' opinions were taken through semi-structured interview forms within this research, which is designed as a case study. The data were subjected to content analysis. It is observed that participants liked and preferred virtual reality technologies. The features of the sense of reality, feeling the ambience and providing the possibility of having a tour in this ambience presented by the technologies can be listed as determinants in participants’ preferences. In addition to this, it can be said that especially the game type contents of the virtual reality technologies are preferred more than the photos and videos. It is thought that interaction and entertainment factors have a significant role in suck kind of preferences. Moreover the participants have also indicated that the use of virtual reality technologies, especially in social studies classes, may be beneficial. Besides, it is thought that virtual reality technologies can be more useful than in-class methods in the sciences and other fields and the VR technologies will increase permanence by creating active learning environments. Article visualizations: