Geometry explorer: Facilitating geometry education with virtual reality

Abstract

A key to learning high-level geometry concepts is an individual’s ability to understand spatial dimensions and to mentally transform 3D shapes. However, prior research indicates that many students do not have adequate spatial understanding skills. On the other hand, immersive virtual reality (VR) has been shown to afford greater spatial understanding. In this paper, we present the Geometry Explorer, a VR system designed to facilitate geometry education by leveraging increased spatial understanding. The system uses a Samsung Gear VR to allow users to view and manipulate the dimensions of 3D shapes. We have created a game based on the goal of manipulating shapes to reach target volumes. We informally evaluated our initial prototype using the Rapid Iterative Testing and Evaluation (RITE) approach. In this paper, we present our modifications based on the usability issues discovered during RITE testing. We conclude by discussing the future of the Geometry Explorer.