Virtual garden: Development and student's perceptions

Abstract

Learning the classification of living things in schools during the Covid-19 pandemic experienced obstacles, one of which was difficult to present specimens of real living things. One of the products of advances in information and communication technology in the form of virtual-based learning media is expected to be a solution to these problems. Through this research, a virtual garden learning media was developed as an alternative learning media for the classification of living things. This development research (Desain-Based Research, DBR) uses the ADDIE (Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement, and Evaluate) model, which consists of five stages: analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation. Virtual Garden application development begins with creating workflows and wireframes, creating 3D assets using Blender software, and producing interactive virtual garden media with Unity-3D software and adding C# programming. This research has involved one learning media expert and one science content and learning expert as validators. The results of the Virtual Garden validation show that this application is valid and relevant to be used as a medium for learning science/biology on the topic of classification of living things. Based on the implementation results, students gave positive responses to the use of the Virtual Garden in learning.