On 2nd December, ÉVEIL tested its brand-new virtual reality game “Opération Zéro Déchet” (OZD) at Lycée Français Alexandre Yersin (LFAY), engaging nearly 90 students from the 9th grade.

This pilot showcase marked an important milestone for the project, aiming to collect direct feedback from students, which are the game’s primary beneficiaries, to guide future improvements to both the VR experience and the accompanying learning unit.

About the VR Game “OZD”

ÉVEIL integrates scientific discovery with French-language learning through its immersive Virtual Universe: Opération Zéro Déchet (“Operation Zero Waste”).

Students immerse in a fictional virtual village

Inside a fully immersive virtual village, students can interact with inhabitants, collect waste and learn how to sort it in corresponding trash bins. Working in pairs, one student navigates the VR environment to identify different types of waste, while his/her partner helps classify each item into Recyclables, Non-recyclables, or Organic.

Students expressed immense excitement and curiosity toward both the VR experience and the learning materials that complemented it.

Student explore the VR Game with learning materials

The M2L2 (a mobile device gathering all the necessary equipment to run virtual reality game sessions in educational environments) is present to support the session.

More Activities to Explore the World of Waste

While waiting for their turn with the VR headset, other groups participated in additional activities. Students watched short videos explaining Vietnam’s complex waste management challenges, from microplastics to the work of local waste collectors.

These videos sparked lively and humorous discussions, with students sharing reflections on consumption habits, the economics of plastic waste, and their own observations of waste in everyday life.

Student watch a video about trash collectors in Vietnam

In addition, students also had the opportunity to enhance their reading comprehension through a short scientific article in French discussing the current waste situation in Vietnam.

A follow-up guided discussion in French helped deepen their understanding of waste-related concepts while reinforcing vocabulary as well as critical thinking skills.

Students read a full article in French

More work ahead for ÉVEIL

Based on the feedback collected during this pilot session, the ÉVEIL team will continue improving the VR game “OZD” to better support French-language learning for high school students. The team will also refine the accompanying learning materials before the game is officially implemented in more Vietnamese public schools.