Monkey Behavior Observer: Implementing Usability-enhancing Interactivity Features in Educational 360°videos for Animal Behavior Observation training

Abstract

Immersive 360°videos offer promising applications in education, especially in domains requiring visual observation and contextual awareness, such as, in this case, animal behavior research. However, their passive nature can limit usability and learning effectiveness. This study investigated how interactivity and enhanced usability features can improve the educational value of 360°videos when used for training students in animal behavior observation– in this case of monkeys kept in an enclosed cage.

To research this, a VR application was developed in Unity, featuring two modes: the Realistic Mode, which simulates traditional uninterrupted observation, and the Expanded Mode, which includes timed pause-segmentation, replay functionalities, more detailed feedback, and an optional Reflection feature for post-task review. A user study was conducted with 26 non-biology student participants who interacted with both Modes, watching three separate 5-minute videos of monkeys in an enclosure. Videos 1 and 3 used the Realistic Mode while Video 2 was in Expanded Mode. Participants assessed usability using the System Usability Scale (SUS), reported their perceived learning value and experience through questionnaires, and had their factual performance tracked via scores on behavior labeling tasks. The results showed a substantial improvement in usability when using the Expanded Mode, with SUS scores rising from an average of 59.2 in the Realistic Mode to over 85 in both Expanded variants. Participants also reported significantly greater enjoyment, reduced stress, and increased confidence in their learning during the more interactive mode. Factual performance improved slightly despite the increasing difficulty of the video content in each of the three videos, with participants maintaining or improving their scores in Expanded Mode even as the complexity of the video increased. Although the Reflection feature did not lead to higher final test scores, users consistently rated it as educationally beneficial and valuable as a feedback mechanism.

This study provides both an empirical evaluation and a reusable framework for interactive 360°video labeling in VR. The findings support the claim that structured interactivity and targeted feedback can make immersive videos a significantly more effective and engaging learning experience, especially in terms of the users’ perceived educational benefits.