Aim

·      This project will develop an interactive and sustainable virtual field trip platform for the enhancement of teaching-learning of tourism education.

Project Description

·      This project takes Yin Tin Tsai (YTT) in Sai Kung, Hong Kong as its site for a Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) interactive field trip platform. VR will be presented in form of a virtual tour incorporating a set of 360-degree image captures at various locations in YTT.

·      AR will be used in specific locations on the island to present some old photos for past-present comparison, or at particular objects to connect them for more information about the historical, cultural and religious elements of the island. In-class exercises or discussion topics will be added through the creation of AR cards for more interactive activities. Students may scan through a particular object (on the site) or AR card (in classroom when outdoor and onsite field trips are not feasible in the cases of pandemic, site maintenance or other reasons). Through AR platform, students can view objects in 3D or animation to obtain more information from it. If budget-wise and technically feasible, simple animation will also be created as a virtual tour guide in the virtual tour.

·      Even in-class teaching is unavailable, the created guided VR tour allows students to explore and virtually experience the various sites in YTT at home without the need for face-to-face interactions and even without AR components.

·      YTT has three different thematic features (the Catholic religion, Hakka culture and ecology) for resource revitalization and destination development.

·      The platform allows students to conduct virtual trips to YTT through innovative features such as animated characters providing virtual tours, self-administered route and attraction selection, eLearning of questions-and-answers, and user-friendly sharing of visitor experience.

·      Teachers are both lecturers to deliver knowledge and facilitators of interactive class or online discussions without any geographical, weather or resource constraints.

·      Teachers can study the learning experience of users through an evaluation of knowledge, attitude, behavioural intention and usability dimensions for research purposes.

Significance

·      This project is of high relevance to teaching-learning enhancement and will be constructive when the platform is utilized across UGC-funded tourism, geography, resource management and general education programmes and courses. Non-UGC-funded programmes and courses will also benefit from the project outcome and the platform although in lower priority. The platform is not a one-off teaching material but can last for at least 2-3 academic years of teaching until YTT island has gone through substantial changes in its physical environment and landscapes.

·      The virtual tour may also open to primary or secondary schools, or even general public. Since the YTT island is not as crowded as it was during previous months (especially, during the Arts Festival in December 2019), the VR tour platform can preserve the current status of YTT. The web version makes it possible to larger group of audience without VR Google at home although the best 3D effects shall be presented by using VR Google for immersive experience, for example, during in-class teaching-learning process.

·      The project integrates field trips, location-based study and VR/AR applications.

·      Desktop and portable versions integrate with some on-the-spot field trip learning APPs/software, and fosters opportunities for further teaching and research collaborations.