Using Google Cardboard Compatible HMDs and Spherical Videos for Teaching History to High School Students

Abstract

The study presents the results from a project in which subjects related with history were taught to high school students using spherical videos, viewed by means of smartphones and Google Cardboard compatible HMDs. The target group was One hundred five 14-15 years old students, divided into three groups. The first used printed material, the second web pages, and the third the HMDs. The project lasted for 12 two-teaching-hours sessions (for for each tool), and data were collected using evaluation sheets and a questionnaire for recording student views and attitudes. The results suggested that students who used the HMDs outperformed students who used the other tools. All tools were considered equally effective and the participating students considered the web pages as easier to use. Then again, the combination of spherical videos, smartphones, and HMDs was more enjoyable and motivating. Though the findings highlighted the educational potential of spherical videos when viewed through HMDs, they also point to the need for finding innovative teaching methods/frameworks for better exploiting their potential.

A Unity3D Engine-Based Virtual Reality Game for Improving Cervical Mobility Using Gyroscope Controls

“…Google Cardboard is designed specifically for entry-level VR experiences and 360degree videos, and it is compatible with nearly all smartphones on both the iOS and Android platforms [4]. It is one of the most accessible mobile VR solutions available, allowing users to easily experience VR with just an iOS or Android smartphone.…”

Experiencing Heritage through Immersive Environment using Affordable Virtual Reality Setup

“…VR is also captivating that makes the public well informed about the significance of the heritage buildings. VR technology has been proven to outperform printed media and web pages in disseminating historical information because it is more enjoyable and motivating [5].…”

“…In the first workflow, the data is captured by using a 360-degree camera in the location of the building. The disseminated results are spherical images or videos that represent the actual situation of the building [5].…”

“…It provides better spatial relationship understanding, improved interaction, and reduced information clutter [4]. The use cases include remote site exploration [5][6][7], language acquisition [8], reduced training cost [9], promotion of cultural heritage [6,10] and retail consumer's experience [11]. VR also retains attention through interactive objects and an immersed environment; and triggers the viewer's imagination [12] in games, simulation, and virtual worlds, which are practical content delivery tools [13].…”