Students and teachers turn into avatars for online education

Advanced didactic experimentation exploiting Virtual Reality is undertaken to overcome the critical issues associated with distance learning caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to suitable collaboration software and viewers, students and teachers can operate as avatars in a virtual space within Building Information models to analyze and discuss their project works from an inside perspective. The trial performed on five different university courses has shown positive feedback recognising an educational value to visualisation and communication technologies. This futuristic review system represents a pilot experience in Italy and among the first cases in the world.