In the current crisis caused by COVID-19, the need to teach in primary schools using digital technologies and online platforms such as e-learning had become more prominent than
ever. The situation, on the other hand, placed great demands on parents who are to ensure “”distance learning”” without being methodically prepared for the situation. The ALIVE project
provided a solution that could help eliminate the situation in the future, as it combines the benefits of online (or, better said distance) education with traditional face to face classroom
teaching. Through virtual reality and the 3D world, it enables the teacher to conduct distance learning – in virtual reality – but at the same time to be in direct contact with their pupils, as if they were in their own classroom. A significant advantage is the potential of digital technologies for an interesting form of knowledge presentation.
The main aim of the proposed project was twofold:
1) To assist pupils in better studying and learning biology with the utilization of new educational technologies. Specifically, a 3D virtual reality educational environment was developed possessing innovative educational infrastructure, and offering immersive and efficient learning opportunities, engaging students in various educational activities, learning scenarios and offering students an attractive, entertaining and efficient way to learn various topics of the challenging domain of biology/natural sciences. The pupils have the ability to virtually visit living labs, immerse into the cell or travel through photosynthesis cycle, perform experiments, explore procedures and phenomena, examine the ways that are conducted and also be guided towards analysing and explaining them through the scientific method.
2) To help the teachers to educate pupils in both situations – in an attractive way during their face-to-face lessons as well in the situation when they cannot participate personally in the classroom.