2-4 February 2015- Istanbul, Turkey Proceedings of INTCESS15- 2 nd International Conference on Education and Social Sciences 421 ISBN: 978-605-64453-2-3 MULTIMEDIA DESIGN PRINCIPLES IN DEVELOPING VIRTUAL REALITY LEARNING APPLICATION TO INCREASE STUDENTS’ KNOWLEDGE IN ISLAMIC FUNERAL RITES Awaatif Ahmad 1 and Wan Ahmad Jaafar Wan Yahaya 2 1 Mrs, Malaysia, Centre for Instructional Technology & Multimedia, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), atif_smpi@yahoo.com 2 Associate Professor, Malaysia, Centre for Instructional Technology & Multimedia, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), wajwy@usm.my Abstract This paper focuses on multimedia design principles which explain the design strategies when developing a virtual reality learning application. This study aims to increase students’ knowledge in Islamic funeral rites. Past studies have shown that students, young people and communities are less mastered in this practice and this was due to less effective methods in teaching. Hence, this calls for an alternative approach to assist students in learning and mastering the Islamic Funeral Rites. Having known the advantages multimedia and technology can offer, learning can be supported by effective multimedia application, especially by using virtual reality. Accordingly, a virtual reality learning application which follows the instructional design model by Alessi and Trollip has been developed. Alpha and Beta testing was conducted with the help of a content expert. Results showed that the virtual reality technology can facilitate students in better understanding the knowledge of Islamic funeral rites. Keywords: Virtual Reality; Islamic Funeral Rites; multimedia design principle I. INTRODUCTION In various educational applications, multimedia has been utilized successfully in many learning environments and has shown many advantages, especially in making students’ learning process smoother. Multimedia application could present the learners with real world experiences and allows them to apply the contents in different contexts (Shank, 2005). In addition, current technologies have also been playing important roles in education. Technologies enable teachers to explore different teaching methods in accelerating students’ learning process. The use of computer-based applications can also enhance the explanation of complicated concept through multimedia presentations. Virtual reality is one of the technology that has been used in education to improve students’ understanding since the 80s (Wang & Li, 2004; Smith & Ericson, 2009). It can be a tool that use as a training tool in dangerous and expensive situations because it can provide a realistic simulation environment without any risk (Ruggeroni, 2001). Students can interact with computer with virtual reality learning environment. Other than that, learning will be done by interaction within students’ prior knowledge and new knowledge in virtual reality learning as in constructivist learning environment (Youngblut, 1998). Constructivist learning focuses on meeting the learners’ needs and helping them to construct and build their own knowledge based on their prior knowledge (Roblyer, 2003). There are many research about virtual reality in education, such as research by Wang & Li (2004), Chen, Shen & Jeng (2007), Adamo-Villani, Wilbur & Wasburn (2008), Smith & Ericson (2009), Kovárová & Sokolský (2011), Elin, Duenser, Billinghurst, Herritsch, Unsworth, Mckinnon, & Gostomski (2012) and Huang & Khan (2012). The Islamic funeral rites, is one of the subtopics contained in the syllabus of Islamic education for form three students in Malaysian Secondary School (KPM, 2012). This topic covers the practice of early death, bathing the dead, wrapping the body with a shroud, praying for the dead and burying the body. Islamic funeral rites, is a very important thing for all Muslims because every individual is sure of the fact that we will all die one