Many schools arrange field trips to zoos, museums, botanical gardens, and other locations to provide authentic learning experiences. While these environments allow students to engage directly with real-world contexts, not all students are able to participate due to physical, cognitive, or sensory disabilities. In addition, there are other factors to consider, such as costs associated with on-site field trips. To address these barriers, virtual learning environments, including virtual tours and Augmented Reality (AR)-based activities, can provide inclusive alternatives by replicating these experiences in immersive, interactive platforms (Parmaxi & Demetriou, 2020). These environments support accessibility needs while also fostering engagement for all learners. The goal of this hands-on workshop is to introduce educators to the development of virtual learning environments using user-friendly, budget-conscious platforms. Participants will learn how to:
- Create a virtual tour using H5P web components and 360-degree photographs of real-world spaces
- Create AR-based activities using 3D models of objects
The session is designed for educators and instructional designers with limited technical experience, and will demonstrate how these tools can be used as resources for designing interactive, place-based learning.
By the end of this workshop, participants will be equipped to produce a basic prototype of an accessible virtual environment. Attendees will receive templates, planning guides, and additional resources to support independent development in their own classrooms and institutions.
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