Class: 4th Grade Texas History

Overview: This tour is about Congress Bridge Ave. and will be discussing the history behind the bridge. It will also talk about the reasoning why bats choose it as their home. We will follow along the structure of the bridge, go under to see Lady Bird Lake, and you will also be slightly able to see the capital come join us on this fun adventure!  

Class: 7th Grade Texas History

Overview: This is a 10-minute tour for 7th-grade students focusing on transportation and South Congress Avenue in Austin, TX. The tour covers far South Congress, from St. Elmo to Sheraton, and is a case study into the many aspects of transportation along roadways: roads themselves, sidewalks and crosswalks, bus stops, bike lanes, etc. The goal of the tour is to get students thinking about how we shape the environments we live in, and how they shape our lives in return. Specifically, students should get a deeper insight into the positives and negatives of our car-centric environments.

Class: 8th Grade U.S. History

Overview: UT Austin is one of the biggest universities in Texas with lots of history, good and unfortunately bad. One of those bad things being the Jefferson Davis statue and, more particularly, where it once used to be located and the unwanted honor it was getting. Since Jefferson Davis was the President of the Confederate States of America and Texas was a Confederate State, students of UT Austin felt that where the statue used to be located, UT Austin was honoring it and a part of the UT culture which students were extremely against because it doesn’t represent UT Austin. This VR tour walks through the changes that have happened with the Jefferson Davis statue over the years.

Class: Environmental Science

Overview: The VR project exploring Zilker metropolitan park in Austin, Texas, provides a unique opportunity to showcase the city's efforts in preserving the park's natural beauty through the new Vision plan. Zilker park is a beloved destination for locals and tourists alike and is often used for public and private events. However, these events have led to damage to the park's ecosystem, including turf damage and exposed roots of trees. With the city's announcement of the park's reconstruction, concerns arise that competing interests may overshadow the well-being of Austinites. By using VR technology, the project offers a glimpse into the city's plans and allows people to visualize the potential impact of the reconstruction on the park's natural state. The project aims to raise awareness about the importance of preserving the park's ecosystem while ensuring that it remains a beloved destination for all.

Class: 8th grade English Language Arts

Overview: No one wants their education to be censored however, with book banning the queer community suffers from erasure of history. Susan Post has dedicated her life to BookWoman, a safe space for people to educate themselves on the queer community in Austin for over 40 years. With this being the only queer book store in Texas, as students of the St.Edward’s University’s User Experience and Education program we were lucky enough to explore a store that is actively combating queer erasure. 

Class: high school U.S. History

Overview: This virtual reality tour takes users through historical locations around Austin that are connected to Wheatville, a freedmen's neighborhood that was founded by James Wheat, a former slave, in 1867. The town was historically black, and grew to have facilities like a school, a church, grocery stores, and even their own newspaper, which was run by Reverend Jacob Fontaine and highlighted issues relevant to the black community there. Now, the locations formerly found in the Wheatville community have been largely erased, and have been enveloped by structures used by University of Texas. The Gold Dollar building still stands among the newer buildings, showing the evident erasure and gentrification of this historically black town. As new, profitable structures continue to pop up, the history of Wheatville gets more overshadowed, and Wheatsville co-op is one of the only locations that tries to honor the town's history.

Class: 7th grade Texas History

Overview: This tour takes you to the State Capitol Building of Texas and covers some aspects of its rich history and purpose. Viewers will be given an up-close perspective of the outer grounds and inner rotunda and witness for themselves the scale and majesty of the building. They will also be shown information pertaining to the construction of the building, including some about the use of prisoner labor.

Class: 7th grade Texas History

Overview: As a college student, creating a VR tour for an assignment was unexpected but eye-opening. I enjoyed using the camera and researching the Austin Capitol. The tour showcased the building's architectural beauty and its connection to the legislative process. It was fascinating to see where representatives and senators work on laws, gaining new appreciation for the complexities involved. Researching abortion laws highlighted the Capitol's role in shaping our lives in Texas. Overall, the assignment combined architectural exploration with contemporary political insights, deepening my understanding of the Capitol's impact on students and citizens alike.

Class: 12th grade United States Government 

Class: Social Studies

Overview: This VR Tour is about stories in East Austin, specifically on East Sixth Street about segregation and gentrification in this part of Austin. In this tour you will find videos about the experiences of those who grew up in East Austin, and how they lived after the 1928 City Plan. You will also find stories about businesses owned by minorities in this area, and how they’ve evolved over time.

Class: high school Cultural Anthropology or Music History

Overview: My VR tour of The Broken Spoke explores the intersection of cultural heritage and development in Austin. This iconic dance hall has been a cornerstone of the city's country music scene for over 50 years, but now faces the threat of gentrification and development. Through 360 images and points of interest, my tour guides students through the history and significance of The Broken Spoke, while also examining the challenges it faces in today's rapidly changing cityscape. The tour prompts students to consider the importance of preserving cultural landmarks and the impact of development on communities.

Class: high school Environmental Science

Overview: Red Bud Isle is a 17 acre island located on Lady Bird Lake near the Tom Miller Dam in Austin, Texas. Recently, the city of Austin has created a new construction project – replacing the current bridge that crosses over Red Bud Isle with a new, larger bridge. The project is the result of an increasing strain on the existing bridge due to population growth, increased traffic, lack of pedestrian walkways, and flooding. In 1900, the nearby dam collapsed, resulting in the creation of Red Bud Isle, but also flooding in parts of the city as well as many injuries – some fatal. Some residents are against this project, as they believe it will not solve any problems and destroy the natural landscape of Red Bud Isle. Is the risk of another possible flooding stronger than the fight to preserve Austin’s quickly dwindling natural landscapes? 

Class: Social Studies

Overview: The  South Congress VR tour gives a brief story about a little known part of the history from the Texas capitol. As you go along the tour you see the evolution of the South Congress bridge as a small pontoon bridge to the ninety foot wide bridge that we see today. As you progress you see the social factors that went into the changes of the bridge as the community goes from unanimously agreeing with the changes to protest and pushback for changes. Students will get to see the implications of a growing city.  

Class: middle school Science

Overview: Join us on a virtual reality tour of the Zilker Butterfly Trail, located in the beautiful Zilker Botanical Garden of Austin, Texas. Our tour will focus on exploring the biodiversity of Texas ecosystems and its significance in maintaining a healthy environment. Through this tour, we will learn how Zilker Botanical Garden promotes biodiversity in Texas through its collection of flora and fauna. As we traverse through the garden, we will gain insight into the various living things that inhabit this ecosystem and the environmental factors that contribute to its significance. Come and experience the beauty and diversity of the Zilker Botanical Garden and discover its role in sustaining biodiversity in Texas.

Class: high school Environmental Science

Overview: This is a VR tour that could be used for an environmental science course. It highlights the Barton Springs pool, a natural spring-fed pool located in Austin, Texas, and educates users on the importance of water conservation and proper water practices. The VR tour takes users on a virtual journey through the pool, showcasing its natural beauty and significance, while also presenting information on water conservation techniques and the impact of human actions on the environment.

Class: high school Social Studies or Urban Studies

Overview: The "Stories of Santa Rita and Public Housing" project sheds light on the subjects of public housing, gentrification, and the Mexican-American heritage in Austin, Tx. Situated in a neighborhood undergoing gentrification, this project highlights the significance of the first public housing project in the United States, which was funded under the 1937 Housing Act. The historic importance of these homes to Austin and the Holly neighborhood is often overlooked and unknown by many.

Class: high school Art or Art History

Overview: When tasked with the assignment to survey a location with a lot of cultural history, Women and Their Work immediately came to mind. The representation of Women artists has been an issue in the creative world for centuries. As traditional art predominantly stems from English Men, having a space for these talented women to showcase their work is an inspiring resource for the younger creatives growing up in the city. The location of the building is right off East Cesar Chavez, an area known for its rich culture and art. Please follow through this VR tour to see, read and watch more about the complex history of Women and Their work, and their new gallery space in East Austin.

Class: n/a

Overview: From residential homes, a lively bar scene, to high rise hotspots, Rainey Street has continuously evolved through the years. What once was a residential neighborhood for families is now becoming the latest target area for building development. What can we expect from the buzzing historic site?

Class: 2nd grade

Overview: I created this tour based the information and I were able to find as much information as we could even though the information was limited. The tour and the issue it correlates as to the lack of navigation and personal was not able to keep up with the need resulting to the shutting down after the world war 1 creating the issue my partner saw. The lost of history in austin as there is not only limited information about Penn field abd the fact that we have a historical area where not even locals know about the city funded a part to conserve this are of history and infrastructure. This tour was organized in a way of trying to incourage people to go as there is shops and is a historical place to remember.