360°-Based Virtual Field Trips to Waterworks in Higher Education

360 degrees models are a form of virtual reality (VR) that allow the viewer to view and explore a photorealistic object from multiple locations within the model. Hence, 360 degrees models are an option to perform virtual field trips (VFT) independent of time and location. Thanks to recent technical progress, 360 degrees models are creatable with little effort. Due to their characteristics of visualization and explorability, 360 degrees models appear as excellent learning tools, especially when additional didactic features, such as annotations, are used. The subject of this explorative field study is a 360 degrees model of a waterworks that has been annotated for learning purposes. Data are collected from a total of 55 learners in four cohorts from study programs in environmental engineering and urban studies using a questionnaire that included standardized measurement instruments on motivation, emotion, and usability. Furthermore, the eight learners of cohort 1 are surveyed using semi-structured interviews on learning, operation and features of the 360 degrees model. Overall, a very positive view on learning suitability of 360 degrees models in VFTs is revealed. In addition, further potential for development of the 360 degrees model could be identified. The results indicate that VTFs based on 360 degrees models might be valuable learning tools, because of their applicability without great effort on the part of either the lecturers or the students. VFTs based on 360 degrees models might serve as a supplement to conventional learning activities or in self-directed learning activities.