How do you correctly install a window, reinforce and concrete a balcony, or assemble a ventilated façade? On 3 October, visitors to Maker Faire České Budějovice festival had the opportunity to try these activities themselves using virtual reality. In cooperation with Hochtief, the DiVirtue project presented its interactive VR lessons focused on practical skills in construction.
The event attracted mainly families with children, and younger visitors showed particularly strong interest – more than 100 children tried the VR lessons on offer. The opportunity to step onto a virtual construction site received entirely positive feedback and demonstrated that even specialist construction topics can be presented to the public in an engaging and accessible way.
Behind the attractive experience, however, lies a clear educational purpose. The VR lessons developed within the DiVirtue project are primarily intended to support construction education at secondary vocational schools and universities. The virtual environment enables students to connect theory with practice and safely learn working procedures that would otherwise be difficult, costly or potentially risky to practise in real-life conditions.
The presentation at Maker Faire showed that virtual reality can be not only an engaging technology, but also a practical tool for modern vocational education and for introducing construction to younger and even the youngest generations.
