DESIGN UNDERWATER VIRTUAL REALITY ACTIVITY

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this master's thesis is to design an underwater virtual reality (UVR) activity with educational objectives, specifically aimed at promoting ocean literacy (OL). The study seeks to address the limitations identified in existing literature, which include the lack of research on the effectiveness of UVR technology and a shortage of appropriate educational content for this medium. By designing an educational UVR activity, this study aims to enhance the learning experience and increase learner motivation. Theory: The theoretical framework employed in this study is the situated experiential education environment (SEEE) framework, which provides an analytical lens to support knowledge acquisition and learner motivation in complex environmental issues. Method: Thematic analysis (TA) was employed to analyze the collected data from interviews and identify key themes related to UVR experience characteristics. Additionally, the study utilized the Design Thinking (DT) framework to create a storyboard for UVR activities based on the experts' opinions and identified themes. Results: The findings of this study demonstrate the teaching potential of UVR technology and identify key characteristics in the design of UVR activities that enhance the learning experience. Furthermore, the study presents the designed storyboard for UVR activities adapted to promote OL.