The Impact of an Interactive Virtual Museum on Students’ Attitudes Toward Cultural Heritage Education in the Region of Al Hassa, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

The goal of this study was to investigate students’ views of the interactive Virtual Museum of Al Hassa Cultural Heritage. In this context, a study was carried out during the second semester of the 2014–2015 school year among sixth-grade elementary school students in Al Hassa, Saudi Arabia. After participating in an interactive virtual museum, 118 students answered a questionnaire after the teaching intervention. SPSS v.21 was used to analyze the data. The results indicated that students had a positive attitude toward the use of an interactive virtual museum in cultural heritage education. The results support the inclusion of cultural heritage in the social studies curricula in K–12 education in Saudi Arabia in order to raise awareness and knowledge of national heritage. The results also confirmed the views of experts regarding the importance and the value of virtual museums as a method for effective learning about cultural heritage.