Exploratory Learning of Amis Indigenous Culture and Local Environments Using Virtual Reality and Drone Technology

Virtual reality (VR) creates immersive environments that allow users to interact with digital content, fostering a sense of presence and engagement comparable to real-world experiences. VR360 technology, combined with affordable head-mounted displays such as Google Cardboard, enhances accessibility and provides an intuitive learning experience. Drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), are operated through remote control systems and have diverse applications in civilian, commercial, and scientific domains. Taiwan’s Indigenous cultures emphasize environmental conservation, and integrating this knowledge into education supports both biodiversity and cultural preservation. The Amis people, who primarily reside along Taiwan’s eastern coast and central mountain regions, face educational challenges due to geographic isolation and socioeconomic disadvantage. This study integrates VR360 and drone technologies to develop a VR learning system for elementary science education that incorporates Amis culture and local environments. A teaching experiment was conducted to evaluate its impact on learning effectiveness and student responses. Results show that students using the VR system outperformed the control group in cultural and scientific knowledge, experienced reduced cognitive load, and reported greater learning motivation. These findings highlight the potential of VR and drone technologies to improve learning outcomes, promote environmental and cultural awareness, and reduce educational barriers for Indigenous students in remote or socioeconomically disadvantaged communities.