Virtual Reality-Based Learning Tools

Most virtual reality (VR) research in early childhood teaching focuses on science and math. This study uses VR to promote cultural literacy, making it stand out. Technology offers a new way to teach and preserve culture early on. This research designs a prototype framework for a VR-based learning tool to test its validity, practicality, and effectiveness in promoting early childhood cultural literacy. The research and development process utilizes the ADDIE (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation) development model. This limited-scale trial included ten 5- to 6-year-old group B1 students at Bukit Permai 2 Kindergarten, and large-scale field trials were conducted at Bukit Permai Kindergarten 2, group B2, located in Gowa Regency, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. The findings indicated that at the development stage, specialists validated the VR tools and found 91.25% product feasibility, defining it as very valid. At the implementation stage, VR tools were practical for teachers and popular with students. One-group pre-test–post-test effectiveness testing indicated a significant increase in children’s cultural literacy. The VR learning tools improved children’s cultural awareness, as shown by the average N-gain score of .68 (moderate to high) and the T-test results with a significant value of p = .000. VR tools are a credible, practical, and effective learning innovation for early childhood cultural literacy through immersive learning experiences.