Learning Singapore History in a virtual world

In Singapore Primary Schools, Singapore History is integrated with Geography, Economics and Sociological principles, and offered as a Social Science subject. Singapore History Alive with 3D! is a comprehensive multimedia teaching and learning package developed by IM Innovations in 2011 to enhance the teaching and learning of Singapore History for Primary Four students. Upon entering the immersive virtual world, students interact with key historical figures and learn through presentation slides, animation videos, mini-games and quizzes. The package can be used for classroom instruction as well as independent learning. This qualitative exploratory study attempted to examine its use as an independent, self-exploratory, post-teaching activity. The research questions were as follows: 1. How did the participants react to the Singapore History Alive with 3D! package? a) Which sections of the virtual materials did they find interesting or engaging? b) What aspects made learning interesting or engaging? 2. What did they learn from the package? Students in two Primary Four classes in Marsiling Primary School, Singapore were allowed to explore the package on 2 and 7 May 2013 for 40 and 30 minutes respectively. Data was collected through classroom observations as well as interviews with teachers and selected participants. The data suggests that the participants enjoyed learning Singapore History from a virtual world and its immersive experience shaped what they learnt.