The purpose of the VREurope project is to create a “flight simulator” for language, culture and history learning." It is a multiplayer, immersive, Virtual Reality augmented learning platform, combining, language, culture, and history. Here learners can study the language, culture and history of the EU partner countries in an e-learning system employing speech recognition for verbal interaction and dialogue practice, artificial intelligence that guides the learners' path, and combines all of that in a virtual reality narrative, where two learners, together, participate in a significant historical event that has impacted the partner country itself as well as having impact on the EU cultural heritage understanding. The learners participate in the event in an "escape-room" similar narrative, having to make sure that the event takes place, so history is not altered.

The platform will be available for self-study and/or blended learning. The target group is primarily youth and their educators, but the actual target group is much bigger than that, including adult learners as well as NEETS, marginalised groups, or groups with non-traditional learning needs.

Multilingualism and Cultural Understanding

The main aim of the project is to reinforce the development of multilingualism as a key competence/basic skill, as well as focusing on creating a better cross-border cultural understanding, and an understanding of how the history of the European Union binds this all together, promoting the European values of peace, tolerance, inclusion, and diversity. The project also promotes a larger cultural awareness, highlighting the commonality of human experience and the wealth of heritage present in Europe. The project aims to tie all this together in one complete package that takes full advantage of the known benefits of virtual reality and social gaming.

The project will create the following results to be broadly disseminated:

• The functional e-learning system containing linguistic, cultural, and historical content, speech recognition based and driven by artificial intelligence, available for use by both learners and teachers
• The playable immersive virtual reality based multiplayer experience, emulating the historical events as described by the partners.

VREurope primarily targets young learners aged 16-25, educators, and stakeholders related to that age group. With this target group, mandatory training and intrinsic motivation are not always a guarantee, but the group can respond well to both a formal learning environment (last grades of secondary schools, language schools, VET learning opportunities) as well as to non-formal, self-paced learning opportunities. The attraction of an immersive, interactive, game-based environment is also high in this age group. The educators and facilitators working with the primary group will also be engaged and addressed; as well as stakeholders and policy makers that affect, design, or adapt policies and practices in formal and nonformal learning environments. 

The project also targets slightly older learners (over 25 years old) that are interested in language and culture/history learning, as well as including audiences that might experience cognitive, mental, or other disabilities.

The project recognizes that each target audience requires tailored communication and engagement strategies. The dissemination activities will be designed to address the specific needs and preferences of each group, ensuring that the messages and materials resonate with their interests and challenges. By reaching out to and involving these diverse target audiences, the project aims to create a supportive network, foster collaboration, and promote sustainable change in attitudes, policies, and practices.

VREurope is funded under the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union. The European Commission’s support to produce this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents, which reflect the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

Further information:

https://www.ludusxr.com/vreurope/