A Virtual Field Environment (VFE) is a series of 360-degree panoramic images with embedded photos, videos, and audio clips that allows students to remotely "explore" a field site. VFEs can be used as an enrichment and classroom introduction to actual field trips or an accessible field trip for students with barriers to outdoor field trips.
For many years, Holobuilder provided free licenses to educators. This extremely generous licensing structure has recently changed, and I am in the process of converting the existing VFEs with Pano2VR to a format that can be hosted on PSU's general web server.
The VFEs below currently are not active, but may be reactivated in the future or converted with Pano2VR.
The Holobuilder-based VFEs listed below were created by student in my Capstone class, "Science Inquiry in the Outdoor Classroom." These are currently inactive due to changes in Holobuilder's licensing structure.
A generalized teacher's guide to the Holobuilder VFEs can be found here. Most of the VFEs also have their own site- and theme-specific guides.
Columbia Childeren's Arboretum - N Portland
Columbia River Gorge
G202 Field Trip VFE
Errol Height Natural Area - SE Portland
Hopkins Demonstration Forest - Beavercreek (S of Oregon City)
Teacher's guide - long form
Teacher's guide - quick intro
Macroinvertebrates and riparian zones
Teacher's guide
Johnson Creek Park
Kelley Point Park - N Portland - Columbia/Willamette confluence
Lower Macleay Park (Balch Creek) - NW Portland
Marshall Park Natural area - SW Portland
Oaks Bottom Natural Area - SE Portland
Schink Demonstration Forest - Molalla
Whitaker Ponds Natural Area - NE Portland
Elk Rock Island - Willamette River, SE Portland
Columbia River Gorge
Geology field trip VFE
Mt St Helens, South side - Cougar, Washington
Geology VFE (in progress)