Design and Testing of a Virtual Reality Enabled Experience that Enhances Engagement and Simulates Empathy for Historical Events and Characters

Our study uses Virtual Reality (VR) to transport high school students into the mountains of Papua New Guinea during World War Two the Kokoda campaign - to witness first-hand the hardships faced by both Australian and Japanese soldiers. By using photogrammetry of real locations and artefacts, in combination with animated characters, Kokoda VR places the students in the centre of the action. Results from data collected in two Australian high schools has shown that a linear narrative in the VR condition increases feelings of empathy for the soldiers, over the 360 video desktop application. Students using VI: also reported higher levels of engagement than students using 360 video and the study found a positive correlation between high engagement and increased empathy in VR.