Abstract:

In an educational system constructed by methodologies of the 19th century, teachers that belong to the 20th century, and students living in the 21st century, the innovation of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) should be implemented permanently in the educational system. Nowadays, our students coexist with modern technologies, such as the Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR).

The development of tools and applications with an educational nature in this field starts to be on the rise, with a large amount of research. However, their actual uses are still in process. Therefore, this report proposes the design of an educational tool in the environment of an immersive virtual reality that gives opportunities to interact with the visual environment by offering simulations, interactive experiences and diverse evaluations. Thus, it is a virtual reality tool that will provide educators support in their daily activities at work. On the other hand, from the point of view of students, they will see this tool as an educational resource that will make classes more enjoyable and motivated than the traditional methods as textbooks.

The agenda included in this tool is framed within the field of natural sciences. In particular, it will show students how important is to care for the environment, and how our acts can affect it, allowing them to understand the possible causes and consequences of the environmental destruction.

Although the article is focused on how this tool can help teachers and students in the educational process, it will be also described how this tool was made, talking about the different technologies used for the development.

In this way, teachers will be able to achieve higher levels of education, that will not only take into consideration the knowledge of wisdom, but it will be an education based on a few foundations in the form of “learning to know”, “learning to do”, “learning to be” and “learning to live together”. In this regard, both the VR and the AR encourage a moral commitment to students so they become aware of their acts, to live an experience in which they are immersed and to be the principal actors of their learning process, instead of being mere spectators.

Virtual Reality is one of the most important technologies in the last decades, and it will become an essential tool in education in the next years. Here we study one of the applications of this amazing technology that will change our lives.

Keywords:

Virtual reality, immersive technologies, virtual educational tool.