Creating Virtual Field Trips for Education: A Comparison of Software and Tools for Creating Virtual Field Trips with 360° Images

Virtual Reality (VR) has gained more importance in the educational sector. A possibility of using VR in education can be Virtual Field Trips (VFTs). This work analyses the possibilities of creating VFTs with different software/tools, output devices, and 360° cameras in the educational sector. The preparatory work, with the recording of own 360° images, is described, including the involved time and comparison of 360° cameras. With a comparison, four categories of software/tools for creating a VFT are analyzed under the aspects of the needed technical equipment, the time effort, the needed skills to create the VFT and the level of immersion and interactivity, and the convey of technical content through the VFT. For the creation and use of a VFT a software/tool and an output device is necessary. The creation of 360° images requires a 360° camera, which is very time-consuming, concerning the everyday workload of teachers. Three of the tested software/tools require through a graphical user interface a low level of skills for creating a VFT. The created VFT with the different software/tools offers different levels of immersion and interaction. It is possible for teachers to create their own VFT, but the accompanying time and cost can limit the possibilities during the everyday work.