Mozilla Hubs for immersive teaching

Emma Abbate

https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEucu-grjssGN38kEgWNt-EoCFVgSn9YlW7

The COVID-19 epidemic forced schools to a rapid transition to online education by experimenting with virtual platforms to replace the traditional classroom.

It was, therefore, necessary to implement augmented teaching, i.e. enriched by the use of video, audio, and images to convey stimulating educational content in new digital environments. In this ’new normal, which has undermined the classic transmissive mode of teaching, the quality of interaction between teachers and pupils has become increasingly decisive.

As shown by several recent studies and researches (Scavarelli et al., 2021), virtual reality (VR), meant as immersion through technological devices in a digital world that emulates the real one, when applied to the learning process is a valid teaching strategy aimed at actively involving students in the lesson, keeping their attention level high and their participation constant.

In this article, we describe the positive experience derived from the use of a free and easy-to-use Virtual Reality App, Mozilla Hubs, for the implementation of lessons in remote Learning or hybrid mode.

SCAVARELLI, A., ARYA, A. & TEATHER, R.J. (2021), Virtual reality and augmented reality in social learning spaces: a literature review, in “Virtual Reality”, 25, pp. 257-77. (https://doi.org/10.1007/s10055-020-00444-8; accessed il 4-2- 2021

I’m a teacher of Latin – History- Art and Geography in English since 1998/9, specialized in CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning). I teach in Cambridge International IGCSE® High School Alessandro Manzoni (Caserta), I’m trainer and author of digital content and free-lance researcher.

I cooperate with the University of Naples L’ Orientale as an expert in CLIL Masters courses and I gained specific expertise in Erasmus+ project management as coordinator of several projects funded by the EU.

I hold a BA in Literature, Latin, History and Geography teaching, MA in e-Learning and CLIL, and PhD in History (University Federico II-Naples).

I attended several master’s degrees in teaching methodology and use of ICT, a Specialization Master in teaching students with special needs at the secondary level and a Diploma for teaching Italian as a Foreign Language, both held by Orientale in Naples.

I have far-reaching experience in continuous Professional development for teachers, teacher trainers, Headteachers (e-learning courses, blended courses, on the job, workshops) in the Italian context and also in international communities of peers on CLIL, Language Teaching, Technology Enhanced Language Teaching (TELL).

I have presented papers at national and international conferences and published articles in peer-reviewed journals.

#VirtualReality (VR), #MozillaHubs, #ImmersivLearning

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