Virtual reality authoring tools for teachers to create novel and immersive learning scenarios

Abstract

This paper aims to encourage teachers from all areas, with a special focus on the area of language teaching, to explore the possibilities of creating virtual learning environments using technologies such as Virtual Reality (VR). Through the current work, the authors intend to share with other teachers their experience with the design and implementation of a 360º German-language app created by using Tour Creator. The latter is a freely available authoring tool developed by Google and allows stakeholders with no specific computer skills to easily create their own VR tours. This way, teachers could provide their students with learning resources that are usually difficult to implement in conventional teaching environments. For the purposes of the current project, the authors designed a VR-based app called Cádiz 360º that permits German language learners by means of numerous panoramic views to explore the Spanish city of Cádiz and to interact with its different places and sights, while practicing, at the same time, their listening and reading skills.