ENHANCING ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION THROUGH VIRTUAL TOURS

Virtual tours act as a means to explore diverse environments and phenomena from anywhere in the world. Particularly beneficial for individuals facing physical limitations or geographical barriers, virtual tours provide an opportunity to visit remote areas, historical sites, and other locations that may be challenging to access. They also serve as a safe and controlled environment for exploration, catering to individuals with limited mobility or those unable to undertake long-distance travel.

Beyond offering access to hard-to-reach locations, virtual tours can supplement field trips. While nothing can replace the in-person experience, virtual field trips enable those unable to attend physically to participate virtually, reducing anxiety and providing an opportunity to prepare for the trip. Such Virtual tours are already in use by the Stanford University

The project's primary focus is on creating virtual tours for the University of Wisconsin Whitewater’s (UWW’s) Nature Preserve, the Whitewater Effigy Mounds Preserve, the Koshkonong Effigy Mounds, and the UWW’s campus garden. UWW Nature Preserve will be promoted by demonstrating the changes the prairie undergoes, benefiting the UWW Sustainability Office. Furthermore, the virtual tour of the two effigy mound preserves will foster respect for the area and aid in its preservation. Finally, the tour of the campus garden will highlight the efforts to address food insecurities. Future work involves enhancing these tours by adding more information and tailoring them to specific classes or projects. We also plan on creating virtual tours to showcase human impacts on environmentally sensitive locations which might be inaccessible by the general population to ensure their effectiveness, feedback from users will be gathered using a Google form.

In conclusion, virtual tours offer invaluable opportunities for individuals with physical or medical limitations to participate in field trips and explore hard-to-reach locations. While nothing can fully replace the in-person experience, virtual field trips reduce anxiety, help individuals prepare for the trip, and boost confidence.