A pair of entrepreneurs have created an online video and virtual reality experience that allows users to explore Adelaide’s St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral in minute detail without stepping inside. Source: The Southern Cross.
Matt Richards has spent more than 20 years in Catholic education but it was a short stint with Apple a few years ago that elevated his passion to combine his knowledge of teaching and Learning Technologies (ICT) with the deeply creative.
Mr Richards and colleague Chris Hyde now run Digi.Me Educational Consulting, an Adelaide outfit that creates interactive learning content aligning with the Australian Curriculum and Crossways Religious Education.
“It’s all about how technology is integrated and asking, ‘how do we use technology actively, not passively in schools?’” Mr Richards said.
In tandem with St Pius X School, Windsor Gardens, and assistant principal Rita Campbell, they developed a simple and user-friendly experience.
The video for St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral begins with Google Earth imaging looking down over Australia, the lens then homing in on South Australia, then Adelaide and finally Victoria Square and the cathedral.
The viewer is then presented with a screen leading to 11 different spots within the cathedral.
And should schools have the capacity and equipment, students can also get a mind-blowing, 3D virtual reality tour of the cathedral. Simply strap on your VR goggles.
“In this year of the Jubilee, our goal is to make the cathedral and the Church accessible right across the state. It is a culturally significant location,” Mr Richards said.
“There is a 44-page teacher companion book for sale with activities and links right across the curriculum, to accompany the online and VR experience.”
Details: digimeec.com.au
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Virtual but very real, storytelling (By Richard Evans, The Southern Cross)
