Ethno-Virtual Reality Media on Wedhang Uwuh as a Traditional Indonesian Herbal Beverage to Support Science and Technology Literacy

Abstract

Indonesian higher-education science learning requires environments that connect scientific concepts, digital technologies, and culturally meaningful contexts. This study investigated an Ethno-Virtual Reality (Ethno-VR) learning environment centered on Wedhang Uwuh, a traditional Indonesian herbal beverage. The investigation focused on its pedagogical characteristics, scientific content, validity, and reported student responses. A mixed-methods research and development design was employed with 29 chemistry education students enrolled in a Mini Research Practicum and three experts in science education, ethnoscience, and educational technology. Data came from expert validation, student-response questionnaires, observations, interviews, documentation, and contextual laboratory activities involving organoleptic and gas-sensor observations. The Ethno-VR environment was organized as an interactive virtual museum containing cultural history, health and social perspectives, preparation processes, scientific explanations, experimental evidence, and multimedia resources. Expert validation supported the revised media's applicability. The ratings indicate positive perceptions of the learning experience, cultural relevance, inquiry activities, and perceived support for science and technology literacy. The findings support media quality and perceived learning affordances rather than causal claims about literacy gains.

Keywords

• Ethno-Virtual Reality
• Wedhang Uwuh
• culturally responsive
• scientific literacy
• technological literacy
• immersive learning