The main purpose of the Vocational Schools Learn R&D and Innovation via Virtual Reality project is to enable the use of virtual reality technology as a learning approach in R&D and innovation teaching. In this context, virtual reality applications addressing six departments were developed and applied to the education process in order to teach the relevant subjects. The development in students’ knowledge and experience on virtual reality, R&D and innovation were analysed by applying questionnaires before and after the application to the education process. It has been observed that the majority of the students know what virtual reality is, but they do not have a real experience. In fact, this is one of the important indicators that although digitalization has become widespread all over the world, it is not used enough in vocational education. Within the scope of the project, it was observed that there was a significant change in the knowledge levels of the students after the virtual reality-based application process. In particular, the students stated that they clearly understood what the concepts of R&D and innovation were with virtual reality applications. In particular, many students were given the opportunity to experience virtual reality for the first time. It was emphasized by the students that learning and understanding are more effective with the effect of the sense of reality and three-dimensional designs that virtual reality gives.

Our main expectation was that the students could interpret virtual reality applications in terms of R&D and innovation. It has been observed that our students, who have had this experience, can clearly express their R&D and innovation processes in applications. On the other hand, our students, who stated that virtual reality increases the motivation and level of understanding, stated that the use of virtual reality in their vocational education will provide significant advantages in the next process. In the light of this information, it has been understood from the students’ opinions that the outputs obtained within the scope of IO2 overlap with the aims and objectives of the project.

Dr Ebubekir KAYA