History Teaching, Vol. 35 No. 1, 2024.
Professional paper
APPLICATION OF VR TECHNOLOGY (VIRTUAL REALITY) IN HISTORY LESSONS (ON THE SUBJECT OF THE HOLOCAUST)
Maja Lukić Puškarić
orcid.org/0009-0005-5262-7483
; Elementary school Dubovac, Karlovac
*
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
The goal of including VR (virtual reality) technology in the traditional teaching methods is to improve the learning process and improve understanding of the matter. The article highlights the advantages and benefits of using VR in history classes. It states the disadvantages of using VR and the challenges that students have encountered during its use in the classroom as well. VR technology was applied during the history workshop on the topic of the Holocaust. Using VR technology, the students "were transferred" to Amsterdam, to Anne Frank's secret shelter, where she was hiding with her family members and four other people from 1942 to 1944. The use of VR in history lessons encourages students to gain a deeper understanding of historical events, explore inaccessible historical locations (like Anne Frank's secret shelter) and increases student engagement during the lesson. This technology that is so "familiar" to students, can encourage them to do additional research and independent study. It allows students a more personalized learning in which each student can have access to specific information determined by the teacher, depending on the students' abilities and interests. VR technology enables practical learning without physical limitations and with reduced travel costs. One of the challenges of using VR technology is a lower digital literacy of a smaller part of the students. Health effects, such as headaches, eye fatigue and nausea, are among the negative aspects of VR use. The teachers who plan to cover delicate historical topics, such as the Holocaust itself, should carefully consider the ethical implications of simulating historical events and adhere to the guidelines of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA). These guidelines are very clear in stating that the Holocaust should be taught with special care.
Keywords
digital technology; holistic approach to education, correlation of history and STEM subjects; Holocaust; Virtual Reality
Hrčak ID:
328304
URI
Publication date:
31.12.2024.
Visits: 336 *