Bringing Earthquake Drills Home: A Virtual Reality-Based Simulation for Independent Earthquake Preparedness

This study develops and evaluates a Virtual Reality (VR)-based earthquake preparedness simulation designed for independent home-based learning among lower secondary students. Responding to the need for more flexible, contextual, and student-centred disaster education in high-risk regions such as Bali, the simulation was created using a Human-Centered Design (HCD) framework to ensure simplicity, usability, and local relevance. A post-test-only quasi-experimental design was employed, comparing two groups: one using the VR simulation and the other using PowerPoint-based materials, both accessed autonomously from home. Students’ earthquake preparedness knowledge was assessed using a validated 15-item multiple-choice instrument adapted from Johnson et al. (2014). As the data did not meet normality assumptions, a Mann-Whitney U test was used to analyse group differences. Results indicated a statistically significant advantage for the VR group, demonstrating higher levels of earthquake mitigation knowledge compared to the PPT group. Beyond effectiveness, the VR intervention offered greater learning flexibility, enabling students to revisit content repeatedly at their own pace. These findings suggest that VR-based autonomous learning holds strong potential for large-scale adoption in disaster-prone regions and may be further adapted for additional hazards and educational levels.

Virtual Reality, independent learning, distance learning

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