An evaluation on using virtual reality and 3D visualisation in science education

With prudent consideration of the plausible merits and impacts in both the learning and instructional domains, an array of relatively simple and inexpensive virtual reality and 3D visualisation technologies were employed to develop many sets of science courseware or resource kits to support the training of science teachers. Most of those materials are being placed on the Internet (website address http://www.ied.edu.hk/has/ised/eindex.htm) as self-learning materials to supplement regular classroom teaching of science. After being grouped into 7 categories, the educational values for using each category of resources in the learning and teaching of certain science topics were carefully and systematically identified in accordance with our literature review and professional judgments. Besides, questionnaire surveys had been administered to 23 classes of student-teachers to collect information about their prior knowledge, receptivity and evaluation of those science courseware/resource kits and their underlying technologies for facilitating science teaching and learning. The survey findings show that respondents rated most of our science courseware with high quality. It is also revealed that respondents were taking a quite positive attitude towards the adoption of those new technologies in their future teaching or learning of science. Copyright © 2005 IOS Press.