Social Distancing forces Storytelling Rethink

In 2020, I developed an education project based on field camps that were postponed because of COVID-19. Video content was key to the program being assembled in Moodle Cloud. H5P.com added extensive interactivity. We were able to take a well developed existing camp program and convert it to online delivery. In the process I become proficient in technologies that were new to me but what was missing for students, I felt, was a real sense of place.

The camps were located on conservation reserves, unique place of high conservation and First Nations cultural value. Learning is really anchored to country. I felt there had to be a way of making the experience of place more prominent. Yes, video really lets viewers see a place, but there's a world of difference between looking at a place and actually being there. It brings to mind the classic postcard caption, "Wish you were here!" I briefly considered working in 360º panoramas but it was out of our reach at the time.