Abstract:

Background:
The Center for Distributed Learning at the University of Central Florida (UCF) offers opportunities for teaching faculty to develop course enhancements using emerging instructional technologies, including personalized adaptive learning modules, cost-free textbooks using open educational resources, and interactive course widgets (Materia). In the Summer of 2023, the Pegasus Innovation Lab (iLab) announced the Digital Curriculum Innovation (DCI) Initiative, inviting faculty to submit proposals for group projects focusing on new and innovative experiences for online learners. The DCI consisted of two complementary elements for faculty participants:
(1) eight in-person cohort meetings and
(2) a presentation of final course technological artifacts before a live audience of colleagues and college deans.
Faculty DCI groups also received support from assigned instructional designers throughout the initiative timeline (Fall 2023 - Spring 2024). One especially engaging and innovative project was developed by Maria Redmon, Professor of Spanish for Specific Purposes and Internships, Modern Languages, and Literatures, that uses a 360 immersive environment to explore the cultural significance of the life of Gauchito Gil, 19th-century Argentinian hero and saint of the everyday man and woman.

Capturing the Life of Gauchito Gil:
In October 2023, Maria Redmon traveled to Argentina with Dr. Wendy Howard (Director, iLab) to collect 360-degree images in Buenos Aires and Mendoza. In Buenos Aires, Dr. Howard captured a set of images at the roadside shrine dedicated to Gauchito Gil. Later, a multimedia specialist collaborated with Prof. Redmon to develop the images into a coherent interactive digital environment. Considered a saint by many throughout Latin America and Spain, Guachito Gil remains a source of support and positivity during troubling times in their lives: loss of employment, social injustice, illness, stress, and other challenges that face people today. Bringing a cultural icon to life through 360 immersive technology has enabled our students to see, hear, and experience the impact Gauchito Gil has had over time; students explore the symbols associated with Guachito Gil, his life, his legend, and his reality.

The Focus of the Session:
In this session, we will share the content and design of the 360-degree immersive environment featuring the shrine dedicated to the Argentinian hero and people’s saint Gauchito Gil. Developed as part of the Digital Curriculum Innovation Initiative that was offered through the iLab, the presenters will share the following aspects of the Gauchito Gil 360-degree environment:
- The student experiences exploring the external elements of the shrine, including a statue of Gauchito Gil, a cross, a tree, banners created by the faithful as an emblem of his martyrdom.
- The student experience of exploring inside the informal shrine, including the opportunity to interact with messages and small mementos left at the shrine.
- Integrated assessment that offers supplement content; and
- Video of Gauchito Gil created using AI.

Keywords:

Emerging technology, 360-degree, Immersive learning environment, global learning, digital learning.