Submitted by amonpong.k on Tue, 07/30/2024 - 16:17
How natural history museums benefit from virtual reality (VR) technology to make learning media more memorable

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Authors

Pornphan Phichai
National Science Museum, 39, Moo 3, Khlong 5, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani, 12120, Thailand

Abstract

Abstract

        This paper aims to discuss designing content for a VR exhibit that enhances episodic memory from analysis results of a study to investigate how a participant remembers the story of a VR exhibit. The design was considered the dominant feature of Head-Mounted Displays VR (HMD VR) that delivers a full immersive experience, an embodiment with the virtual body (VB) that induces sensory-motor function. The researcher conducted an empirical study which created a VR exhibit to deliver scientific knowledge about the camouflage of animals in a Tundra environment. The study used a mixed-method approach, quantitative and qualitative, to collect data for analyzing three factors: memory, emotion, and immersion, which focused on discussion in this paper. Fifteen subjects participated in the study. The results showed that the memory two weeks after the experiment did not significantly decrease from the memory after the experiment. It indicates that learners can recall the story of the Camouflage VR Exhibit at a high level. The results show learnersemotions have high levels of pleasantness and arousal, and the exhibit offers a sense of immersion to the participants with 2.90 from 5.00. The analysis of the qualitative data found nine design features that support learners to remember the Camouflage VR Exhibits story, for example, game mission, objects in virtual environments, changing of the environment, critical situations, etc. This study suggests that natural history museums (NHM) should design the content of VR exhibits with experiential learning by creating experiences that allow learners to move their bodies to interact with a virtual environment rather than text explanations. This will aid to design experiences more actively by applying game mechanics, which the VR full immersive technology benefits from design content for NHM.

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References

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