Development of virtual reality environment for aquaculture as interactive teaching material

This study examines the usability of virtual reality environments for enhancing the learning process of students studying in the field of fisheries and aquaculture engineering. In this context, the design, development, and effectiveness of a virtual reality learning environment for aquaculture production were investigated. The VR application, which was produced with virtual reality technology, was tested by two different groups of students (Group I - 3rd year and Group II - 4th year) in the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Engineering at Ankara University Faculty of Agriculture between December 2022 and January 2023. The VR application was designed to simulate the hatchery, nursery ponds, and sea cages in accordance with the curriculum for trout production. Students were subjected to both VR and face-to-face education, and their learning performances were evaluated. In the assessment of learning performance with VR, it was determined that there was a difference in exam scores between the groups (p<0.05). Group I was found to have higher VR performance, and it was determined that gender and visual impairments did not affect VR performance (p>0.05). According to the Likert analysis results, the effectiveness of traditional education was found to be 3.51, while the effectiveness of VR was 3.94 (p<0.05). The findings obtained from the exam, survey, and interviews show that the use of VR technology in fisheries and aquaculture engineering education makes students' education more effective. It was revealed that students generally had a positive view of VR applications and that the applications provided benefits to their education, aroused interest, and affected their sense of reality. It was concluded that VR applications can be used as effective instructional material in the classroom. Therefore, it is recommended to promote the use of virtual reality technology in fisheries and aquaculture engineering education.