«VR4Empathy’s 2nd meeting in Copenhagen focused on key research, collaborative workshops, and plans to create VR content and teacher training, all aimed at making European education more empathetic and inclusive»
On 17 and 18 September 2024, Copenhagen was the scenario of the 2nd transnational meeting of the VR4Empathy project, bringing together experts from several institutions to explore how Virtual Reality (VR) can enrich learning in schools, especially in developing empathy among students. Held at the installations of Khora, a Danish company specialising in VR, the meeting was attended by representatives from Portugal, Slovenia and Greece. With the aim of redefining educational resources and strengthening the teaching of empathetic values, the team discussed progress and planned the next steps for the project.
Breakthroughs and key findings from the research
The VR4Empathy project has already reached important milestones. At the last meeting, the University of Ljubljana, responsible for the research, presented a review of more than 170 studies on VR in education, identifying practices for creating materials that promote empathy. Surveys of more than 120 teachers and 230 students from three countries revealed the main areas of interest and concerns for integrating VR into lessons, such as encouraging cognitive empathy and inclusion.
This data fuelled design thinking workshops, in which students and teachers collaborated on ideas for the inclusive and innovative use of VR. From the researcher, partners concluded that the development of VR content must align with students’ emotional and pedagogical needs to be truly effective.
Resource development and teacher training
Kickstarting the journey to create the resources and design an impactful teacher training program, Khora led a workshop on creating 360º videos and VR experiences for the project. This workshop enabled VR4Empathy team to develop immersive narratives and filming techniques that allow students to ‘live in the shoes’ different moments in European history, stimulating empathy. Simulations of historical scenarios and perspectives of social figures were discussed to broaden students’ understanding.
Strategic planning and excellence in vr4empathy implementation
To ensure the quality and impact of the project, the University of Peloponnese presented the foundations for the development of a quality framework, which will ensure that VR resources are accessible, inclusive and relevant. The aim is to create guidelines that help teachers integrate VR effectively, promoting student engagement and safety, while respecting ethical and inclusive principles. The first version of the framework should be ready by January 2025 and will be refined based on feedback from pilot implementations.
Paving the way to expand the project
With the creation of the EdTech Network scheduled for November 2025, the VR4Empathy project aims to expand its network, connecting more than 150 educators, researchers and educational technology professionals to foster knowledge exchange in VR.
Later this year, a co-design session will be held in selected schools, where teachers from different countries will collaborate to create and test VR lessons. The first visual resources will be available for testing in April 2025, with videos on European citizenship, social values and environmental sustainability, offering students immersive experiences to reflect on these themes.
VR4Empathy in the spotlight to generate lasting impact
During the meeting, the importance of disseminating the results was emphasised. INOVA+, which is responsible for communication, has planned engagement events in each partner country in 2024 to involve more schools and educators. Social media campaigns, newsletters and a YouTube channel will also be launched, promoting the impact of VR4Empathy on European education.
The project’s second meeting represented a significant step forward in building a more empathetic and innovative education, with the team committed to creating resources that transform students’ learning experience.