Citation :

Natthanicha Sornsuwonrangsee, Siam Charoenseang, "A VR-Based Learning Environment for Teaching Coral Reef Ecology to Junior High School Students," International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT), vol. 74, no. 8, pp. 309-324, 2026. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.14445/22315381/IJETT-V74I8P121

Abstract

This study presents a Collaborative Virtual Reality Learning Environment (CVLE) on coral reef ecosystems, designed for junior high school students to learn through hands-on experience (Learning by doing). The proposed system uses Virtual Reality technology (VR) for the purpose of developing a supplementary learning tool, experienced through the Oculus Quest 2. This VR-based learning system uses Game-Based Learning (GBL) through a mission system, developed with the Unity game engine and Normcore SDK to support collaborative interaction via voice chat. The learning scenario begins with an exploration of organism characteristics, followed by completing three mission levels while observing the ecosystem dynamics. The system features agent-to-agent interactions among organisms, allowing users to observe biological changes and comprehend the roles and relationships of organisms. The results revealed that system usage had a statistically significant impact on participants’ scores (p = 0.0137). Additionally, the VR application rendered at a frame rate of 45 to 70 fps, which is sufficient for system usage. Participants expressed high satisfaction regarding both system usability (4.06/5) and value for specific tasks (4.21/5), with scores ranging from 4 to 5, confirming the system’s effectiveness for the target users. Participants agreed that this proposed system was beneficial in helping to enhance their understanding of the roles and relationships of organisms, and they enjoyed the learning experience.

Keywords

Virtual Reality, Collaborative learning, Coral reef ecosystem, Game-Based Learning, Educational technology.

References

[1] Edgar Dale, Audiovisual Methods in Teaching, 3^rd ed., New York, NY, USA: Dryden Press, 1969.
[Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]

[2] David Matthew Markowitz et al., “Immersive Virtual Reality Field Trips Facilitate Learning about Climate Change,” Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 9, pp. 1-20, 2018.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]

[3] Tisana Khammani, The Science of Teaching: Knowledge for Organizing Effective Learning Processes, chulabook, 2017.
[Publisher Link]

[4] Haozhe Jiang et al., “Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality-Supported K-12 STEM Learning: Trends, Advantages and Challenges,” Education and Information Technologies, vol. 30, no. 9, pp. 12827-12863, 2025.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]

[5] Géraldine Fauville et al., “Underwater Virtual Reality for Marine Education and Ocean Literacy: Technological and Psychological Potentials,” Environmental Education Research, vol. 32, no. 3, pp. 588-612, 2024.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]

[6] Chiung-Fang CHANG, and Jerry Chih-Yuan SUN, “The Role of VR-Supported Co-Learning Environments in University Students' Self-Efficacy and Learning Engagement,” 31^st International Conference on Computers in Education (ICCE), pp. 386-393, 2023.
[Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]

[7] William R. Sherman, and Alan B. Craig, Understanding Virtual Reality: Interface, Application, and Design, 2^nd ed., Morgan Kaufmann, Elsevier, 2003.
[Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]

[8] Ronald T. Azuma, “A Survey of Augmented Reality,” Presence: Teleoperators and Virtual Environments, vol. 6, no. 4, pp. 355-385, 1997.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]

[9] Paul Milgram, and Fumio Kishino, “A Taxonomy of Mixed Reality Visual Displays,” IEICE Transactions on Information and Systems, vol. E77-D, no. 12, pp. 1321-1329, 1994.
[Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]

[10] Nikolaos Pellas, Stylianos Mystakidis, and Ioannis Kazanidis “Immersive Virtual Reality in K-12 and Higher Education: A Systematic Review of the Last Decade Scientific Literature,” Virtual Reality, vol. 25, no. 3, pp. 835-861, 2021.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]

[11] Hsin-Kai Wu et al., “Current Status, Opportunities and Challenges of Augmented Reality in Education” Computers and Education, vol. 62, pp. 41-49, 2013.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]

[12] Maximilian Speicher, Brian D. Hall, and Michael Nebeling, “What is Mixed Reality?,” Proceedings of the 2019 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI '19), Association for Computing Machinery, New York, United States, pp. 1-15, 2019.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]

[13] Jocelyn Parong, and Richard E. Mayer, “Learning Science in Immersive Virtual Reality,” Journal of Educational Psychology, vol. 110, no. 6, pp. 785-797, 2018.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]

[14] Mordor Intelligence, Virtual Reality (VR) Market Size and Share Analysis - Growth Trends and Forecast (2026 - 2031), 2018. [Online]. Available: https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/virtual-reality-market

[15] Xiao Ping Lin et al., “The Impact of Virtual Reality on Student Engagement in the Classroom–A Critical Review of the Literature,” Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 15, pp. 1-8, 2024.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]

[16] Devon Allcoat, and Adrian Von Mühlenen, “Learning in Virtual Reality: Effects on Performance, Emotion and Engagement,” Research in Learning Technology, vol. 26, pp. 1-13, 2018.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]

[17] Chris Dede, “Immersive Interfaces for Engagement and Learning,” Science, vol. 323, no. 5910, pp. 66-69, 2009.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]

[18] Matthew David Botkin, and Jesús H. Trespalacios, “Identifying Virtual/Augmented Reality Research in K-12 Science Education: A Scoping Study,” TechTrends, vol. 70, no. 1, pp. 138-149, 2025.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]

[19] Sally A. Keith et al., “Enhancing Motivation to Learn Marine Ecology and Increase Ocean Literacy through Virtual Reality in Higher Education,” Ecosphere, vol. 17, no. 3, pp. 1-13, 2026.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]

[20] Meta, Meta Quest 2, Meta. [Online]. Available: https://www.meta.com/quest/products/quest-2/tech-specs/

[21] Unity, XR Interaction Toolkit, Unity, 2016. [Online]. Available:
https://docs.unity3d.com/Packages/com.unity.xr.interaction.toolkit@2.5/manual/index.html

[22] Jean Piaget, The Construction of Reality in the Child, 1^sted., Routledge, 1954.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]

[23] L.S. Vygotsky et al., Mind in Society: The Development of Higher Psychological Processes, Harvard University Press, 1978.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]

[24] Marc Prensky, “Digital Game-based Learning,” Computers in Entertainment (CIE), vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 1-14, 2003.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]

[25] John Sweller, “Cognitive Load during Problem Solving: Effects on Learning,” Cognitive Science, vol. 12, no. 2, pp. 257-285, 1988.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]

[26] John Brooke, SUS: A Quick and Dirty Usability Scale,1^st ed., CRC Press, pp. 207-212, 1996.
[Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]

[27] Jane Forman, and Laura Damschroder, Qualitative Content Analysis, Empirical Methods for Bioethics: A Primer, 2007.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]

[28] Jaziar Radianti et al., “A Systematic Review of Immersive Virtual Reality Applications for Higher Education: Design Elements, Lessons Learned, and Research Agenda,” Computers and Education, vol. 147, pp. 1-29, 2020.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]