The purpose of this study was to prepare a plan for novel education using a new medium called the "Metaverse" that has emerged in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. A significant effect of the Metaverse on improving the ability to learn was confirmed based on the data from studies on the relationship between the Metaverse and education. However, there is no point of contact between the Metaverse and the field of modern novels. Therefore, this study intended to establish the criteria for novel education through the Metaverse by combining the educational characteristics of Metaverse with novel education, and to prepare a plan for novel education using the Metaverse.
In Chapter 2, how each of the four types of Metaverse, which are Augmented Reality, Lifelogging, Mirror worlds, and Virtual worlds, is utilized in connected with education was confirmed, and based on the results, the relationship between the Metaverse and education was analyzed. In addition, the educational characteristics of Metaverse were substituted into the novel-related achievement criteria in the 2015 Revised Korean Language Curriculum, and thus the expansion of senses, immersion, a sense of presence, narratives, the sharing of experiences, and free creation were derived as the characteristics of Metaverse necessary for novel education. Moreover, the current educational status of "Rain Shower", a novel to be used in this study, was examined based on textbooks, which resulted in a view that more effective education would be achieved by utilizing the Metaverse.
In Chapter 3, the reason for selecting 'ZEPETO', a Metaverse platform to be used in this study, and educational methods for the symbols of the novel Rain Shower using 'ZEPETO' were presented. In specific, how to create and experience the main space of Rain Shower was presented using ZEPETO's virtual space 'World' and the major symbols of Rain Shower were posted and interpreted from the main character's point of view by using ZEPETO's virtual "SNS." Moreover, as a way to internalize the novel, learners were instructed to create the most memorable space of growth in their lives, and then make images symbolic of their minds and post these images on the virtual SNS. This activity enables learners to directly create and experience the novel's space and change its point of view from the third person to the first-person. This study expected that this utilization of the Metaverse would allow learners to gain a different experience of immersion from when reading texts, arouse their interest in novel education, and enable their self-directed participation in classes. It was also likely to help them to creatively express, share, and experience novels.
In Chapter 4, a teaching-learning method for the novel Rain Shower was proposed using the Metaverse platform 'ZEPETO', and a survey was performed on Korean language teachers in the educational field to confirm the potential of classes using this method.
The Metaverse is a world in which Generation Z learners, who live in the digital world, would live, as well as a new world unfolding before us. In terms of the methodology of literature education, this study is significant for helping learners to more easily accept, more joyfully express, and even internalize novels using a new technology called the Metaverse, thereby presenting a new paradigm for literature education.