Publication details
Collaborative Learning Heights : Hypsography Lessons in iVRs
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2023 |
| Type | Chapter of a book |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Description | This chapter explores the potential of immersive virtual environments (iVE) in ge-ography education, particularly for understanding complex topics like hypsographyand contour lines. It argues that iVEs offer unique advantages in visualising spa-tial data and simulating geographical phenomena, which traditional teaching meth-ods may struggle to convey effectively. The chapter details developing and testing acollaborative hypsography application designed for educational purposes. The appfocuses on enhancing spatial understanding through 3D visualisations and collabo-rative tasks. University and high school students participated in qualitative studiesto assess the app’s effectiveness. The studies revealed that while students generallyfound the iVE engaging and beneficial for understanding geography concepts, therewere some challenges with communication within the virtual environment and theneed for controller training. The participants also suggested potential applications ofiVEs in other subjects like history, physics, and chemistry. Despite some limitations,such as the novelty effect and potential for motion sickness, the overall response tousing iVE in education was positive. The chapter concludes by emphasising the needfor further research to optimise the use of immersive virtual environments in edu-cational settings and to explore their long-term effects on learning. |
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