Project TITLE
The Development of a Reusable Learning Resources Library of Immersive 360-Degree Videos for Programmes in the Built Environment
Project Lead
Dr Mary Moloney (mary.moloney@mtu.ie)
Project Status
- In Progress
Project Lead Home Department
- MTU Cork - Building and Civil Engineering - Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering
Alignment to HEA and NFETLHE SATLE 2023-24 Themes
- Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
- Digital Transformation in the Tertiary Sector
Alignment to MTU Strategy Themes
- Learner Education & Experience
- People & Community
- Global Outlook
Project Description
The objective of this project is to create a collection of shareable and reusable learning resources for programmes in the Built Environment. These resources can be used to explain building technology concepts or to support the development of Project-Based Learning (PBL) assignments.
This project builds upon the work completed in a previous Reusable Learning Resources (RLR) project, carried out under the SATLE 2022-23 funding. The earlier project highlighted the need to capture and develop more RLRs that can benefit both lecturers and students in the built environment disciplines.
The project has two key elements:
Capturing 360-degree Video from Live Construction Sites
- In the previous SATLE 2022-23 project, the construction process of a timber-framed house was recorded using an Insta360 camera.
- The resulting footage was then integrated into a PowerPoint presentation and shared with colleagues in the Department of Civil, Structural & Environmental Engineering at MTU and the Cork Centre for Architectural Education (CCAE).
- This short resource proved extremely useful in explaining timber frame construction, and there was significant interest from colleagues in developing more such resources.
Capturing Virtual Visits to Completed Buildings
- Recording 360-degree virtual visits (VVs) to completed buildings allows these structures to be used as the basis for PBL assignments. For example, by creating a VV of the Marina Park – Red Shed and publishing the video on YouTube, students were able to study the building's construction for a health and safety module at MTU. Using VVs, PBL assignments can be designed around real, innovative buildings, which is particularly beneficial for:
- Students with accessibility issues due to physical disabilities.
- Sharing and experiencing interesting structures from around the world in a more engaging way.
- Distance and online learning.
The design of the VVs for this project will be informed by feedback gathered from the students who participated in the previous health and safety module.
This project aims to expand the collection of shareable, reusable learning resources in the built environment, leveraging 360-degree video technology to provide immersive and engaging learning experiences for students. By capturing the construction process and virtual visits to completed buildings, the project will equip educators with a diverse set of tools to enhance their teaching and support project-based learning.
What is the anticipated impact of this project?
As mentioned previously, the outputs from this project will provide highly impactful learning materials for both students and educators in the built environment disciplines. The primary outputs will be a collection of 360-degree virtual visit (VV) videos, which will be seamlessly integrated into PowerPoint presentations to enhance the delivery of construction technology concepts.
The value of these 360-degree VV resources has been validated through feedback from students who participated in a previous PBL assignment using the 360-degree video of the Marina Park – Red Shed. The student feedback was extremely positive, highlighting the benefits of this immersive video technology:
"It gives you a better comprehension of the scale of structures"
"It helps with explaining certain complex issues that may be hard to explain"
"It is the closest you can get to being there through media, so it is very effective"
Within MTU's School of Building and Civil Engineering, faculty members were also hugely positive about the capabilities of 360-degree video technology in sharing buildings and construction knowledge after a recent demonstration.
Furthermore, the project has garnered very positive feedback and interest from potential collaborators in the higher education sector, including:
- Trevor McSharry, Head of Department of Civil Engineering and Construction, Atlantic Technological University
- Dr Patrick Getrick, Lecturer and Researcher, University College Galway
- Dr Denis Kelliher, University College Cork
With the support of these engineering departments delivering built environment programmes, the initial impact of this project is expected to reach over 1,000 students, with the 360-degree video resources remaining accessible for use in future years.
Internationally, the project team plans to share this work with MTU's Ingenium partners, as the 360-degree videos can be easily disseminated via platforms like YouTube or the Ingenium sharing platform. The project was recently presented at the Ingenium Senior Staff School at the University of Crete, where it was extremely well received. One university is already using the Insta360 technology, and further discussions have commenced with Iasi University in Romania.
Overall, the impactful learning resources developed through this project will provide students and educators in the built environment with innovative, immersive tools to enhance teaching, learning, and project-based activities. The widespread interest and positive feedback from stakeholders within and beyond Ireland highlight the transformative potential of this initiative.
HOW Will the outputs of this project be DISSEMINATED?
The outputs generated from this project will be disseminated through in a number of ways to ensure maximum reach and impact.
Firstly, the 360-degree virtual visit (VV) videos will be shared on an open platform, making them freely accessible to students, educators, and the broader public. In addition, the videos will be uploaded to YouTube, leveraging the platform's wide viewership and discoverability.
Furthermore, the project lead plans to leverage MTU's involvement in the Ingenium European University Alliance to share the VV videos through the alliance's dedicated content sharing platform. This will enable widespread dissemination among Ingenium's network of international partner institutions, amplifying the impact of the project's outputs.
To gather valuable feedback and insights on the new VV videos, additional surveys will be conducted with the necessary Human Research Ethics approval. These surveys will provide valuable data on the effectiveness and user experience of the immersive learning resources, informing future iterations and improvements.
The project's findings and outcomes will also be presented at national and international conferences, allowing the team to engage with a broader academic and industry audience. This will not only raise awareness of the project's achievements but also foster discussions and collaborations that can further enhance the impact of the work.
Additionally, the project lead intends to author a peer-reviewed journal paper that explores the impact of using 360-degree video technology as a teaching pedagogy. This scholarly publication will contribute to the academic discourse on innovative approaches to learning in the built environment, solidifying the project's position as a trailblazer in this field.
Through this comprehensive dissemination strategy, the project's outputs will be widely shared, feedback will be gathered to improve the resources, and the project's significance will be elevated through academic and professional channels. This multi-faceted approach ensures that the impact of this initiative can be maximised, benefiting students, educators, and the broader built environment community.
Team Members
- Dr Mary Moloney, Department of Building and Civil Engineering, MTU Cork Campuses
