Page 142 - Kaleidoscope Academic Conference Proceedings 2020

2020 ITU Kaleidoscope Academic Conference

developing country, South Africa is faced with challenges 2.2 Virtual Reality in Nature Reserve
such as infrastructural and human resource shortages,
particularly within the science, technology, engineering and Virtual tours offer many benefits for self-guided tours in
mathematics (STEM) disciplines. This can be owed to nature reserves. A study undertaken by Dolphin et al. [11]
several reasons which include resource constraints revealed that students found virtual field trips advantageous
encountered by higher education [4]. Technology driven in that they were more versatile and convenient than actual
education enables distant learning to be adopted while field trips. The aim of the study was to determine whether or
simultaneously allowing educational institutions to alleviate not there was a notable increase in engagement and
resources. knowledge transfer when compared to traditional means of
instruction, such as actual field trips. And with new
STEM disciplines frequently entail an abstract advancements in technologies such as 3D modeling software,
understanding of intricate structures. For example, in there are now many opportunities for developers to design
geology, geologists must be able to convey an understanding interactive content and simulations [12]. The following
of the numerous characteristics of structural materials. section describes existing work related to the use of VR to
Domains such as these call for an immersive experience, enable users to perform self-guided tours remotely.
which is imperative for experiential learning to occur.
Currently this may be hard to facilitate when using 2.2.1 Venture to the Peruvian Amazon
traditional means of instruction, even with the adoption of
existing e-learning tools [5]. However, the adoption of The Queensland University of Technology (QUT) deployed
immersive technologies shows promise in helping to researchers to the Peruvian Amazon to assist in the
mitigate some of the existing challenges, such as the ability conservation of the jaguar population [13]. The aim of the
to allow users to experience real-life scenarios and exercise research was to use VR technology, which included 360°
problem solving techniques in high-fidelity environments cameras and 3D modeling tools, to recreate the jaguar habitat
where learning occurs through making errors in a safe space. and their surrounding ecosystem. The application includes
Fabris et al. states that this is active learning, a teaching style interactive content to create awareness of the jaguar species.
which clearly has a significant impact on student learning [6].
2.2.2 Virtual Human Interaction Lab (VHIL)
Human resources are also alleviated as a result of using
immersive technologies for instruction. Dede [7] notes a VHIL developed a short documentary and interactive virtual
number of benefits when using immersive interfaces, reality content pertaining to the problem surrounding ocean
including enhanced situated learning in an immersive acidification and the excess of CO2 in the atmosphere and its
environment. Dalgarno and Lee [8] identified increased impact on ocean waters and marine life [14]. In conjunction
engagement as an additional benefit. Coulter et al., [9] posits with the development of the content, researchers from
that enhanced knowledge acquisition is yet another core Stanford were responsible for developing a virtual imitation
benefit of teaching in immersive environments. To add to of the coral reef surrounding the Italian coast. Using a virtual
this, the learning benefits are greater when the interface of an reality head-mounted display users are able to interact with
immersive virtual environment allows the user to investigate, and explore the coral reef to learn more about the habitat.
assemble and manipulate 3D virtual objects and structures
using a natural interface [8]. 2.3 Review Remark
The educational affordance of immersive virtual The aim of this literature review was to investigate similar
technologies play an imperative role in providing effective applications like those proposed by this study in order to
learning benefits. The use of immersive virtual reality identify any gaps in the body of knowledge that this study
technologies as an instruction aid provides students with aims to fill. With virtual reality being in its infancy, it is
authentic real world scenarios that may be hard and rather evident that literature pertaining to studies and related
expensive to replicate in the real world. For example, work done with virtual reality is quite limited.
students could traverse 3D replicated environments without
having to be concerned about the harmful implications [10]. 3. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY
It is not the immersive technology itself, but rather the
affordance of these technologies that have a direct impact on 3.1 Methodology
the learning benefits [8]. Simply put, it is the learning
activities within the virtual environment that may result in This project subscribes to a single methodology, namely the
enhanced learning outcomes to occur. Scrum methodology. Schwalbe [15] describes this
methodology as the most commonly adopted agile
In this section we covered the literature related to immersive methodologies for completing complex information
technologies as a teaching and learning aid. In the next technology projects with innovative scopes. To successfully
section, we relate the literature to justify the rationale of the adopt the Scrum methodology, there are processes that must
individual project. be adhered to. First a product backlog is created outlining the
desired features that must be included in the end product or
software. These features or deliverables are then assigned to

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