Evaluation Of 3D Virtual Environment for History Teaching: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Virtual worlds allow many activities that are impossible or difficult to perform in a classroom environment with the facilities they provide. Virtual worlds are used in many areas of higher education, such as foreign languages, mathematics, science, archaeology and social studies. This study includes a pilot study aimed to evaluate 3D (three-dimensional) Virtual History environment which based on Atatürk's Principles and History of Turkish Revolution-1 course outcomes. Virtual History environment allows students to play the role in historical scenarios and learn with historical reenactment technique. OpenSimulator platform was used to create Virtual History environment. The historical places were reconstructed in accordance with the original and avatars were modeled to look like historical characters. The case study method, one of the qualitative research methods, was used in the study. Twenty one senior students from Computer Education and Instructional Technology Department participated to the pilot study. Using questionnaire, interview and observation data collection tools, the Virtual History environment was evaluated in terms of technical, orientation, emotional, cognitive and pedagogical dimensions. As a result of the study, there was no need for changes in design of the Virtual History environment, but inventory sharing was proposed as a solution to facilitate the use of the environment and problems with teleport and avatar change that may occur.

Keywords

• 3D virtual learning environment
• multi-user virtual environments (MUVEs)
• virtual history
• historical reenactment
• OpenSimulator

Tarih Öğretimine Yönelik 3B Sanal Ortamın Değerlendirilmesi: Pilot Çalışma

Abstract

Sanal dünyalar, sağladıkları imkanlar ile sınıf ortamında gerçekleştirilmesi imkansız ya da zor olan birçok etkinliğin gerçekleştirilmesine olanak sağlamaktadır. Özellikle yükseköğretim düzeyindeki yabancı dil, matematik, fen, arkeoloji ve sosyal bilgiler gibi eğitimin birçok alanında sanal dünyalar kullanılmaktadır. Bu çalışma, Atatürk İlkeleri ve İnkılap Tarihi-1 dersi kazanımları temel alınarak hazırlanmış olup öğrencilerin tarihsel canlandırma tekniği ile tarihi senaryoları canlandırmalarına olanak sağlayan 3 boyutlu (3B) Sanal Tarih ortamının değerlendirilmesine yönelik pilot uygulamayı içermektedir. OpenSimulator platformu kullanılarak tasarlanan Sanal Tarih ortamında, dönemin tarihi mekanları ve karakterleri aslına uygun olarak modellenmiştir. Çalışmada, nitel araştırma yöntemlerinden durum çalışması yöntemi kullanılmıştır. Uygulamaya 21 Bilgisayar ve Öğretim Teknolojileri Eğitimi Bölümü son sınıf öğrencisi katılmıştır. Anket, görüşme ve gözlem veri toplama araçları kullanılarak gerçekleştirilen bu çalışmada Sanal Tarih ortamı, teknik, yönlendirme, duygusal, bilişsel ve pedagojik boyutlar açısından değerlendirilmiştir. Çalışma sonucunda, Sanal Tarih ortamının tasarımına yönelik herhangi bir değişikliğe gereksinim olmadığı belirlenmiştir. Bununla birlikte, ortamın kullanımını kolaylaştırmak ve yaşanabilecek ışınlanma ve avatar değişikliği problemlerini çözmek amacıyla envanter paylaşımı önerilmiştir.

Keywords

• 3B sanal öğrenme ortamı
• çok kullanıcılı öğrenme ortamı
• sanal tarih
• tarihsel canlandırma tekniği
• OpenSimulator

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