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What is it like to be a teacher in a virtual classroom? And how can you manage, for example, a virtual field trip? Students and academics from eight member universities of the EUPeace alliance had the chance to experience this firsthand at the Faculty of Education of the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen. The faculty hosted its first Blended Intensive Program (BIP), a format that combines online and in-person learning. A total of 28 students and teachers took part.

“It is a prestigious milestone for us. We are organizing the first BIP at the Faculty of Education and only the second across the entire university. At the same time, we are strengthening our international partnerships,” said Tereza Havránková, Vice-Dean for Internationalization at the Faculty of Education. According to her, the faculty aimed to offer its European partners a meaningful program combining practical experience with current topics. The BIP format, part of the Erasmus+ program, proved to be an ideal choice. Participants first meet virtually, then complete an intensive joint program, and finally share their experiences.

The program was based on two projects of the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic: virtual classrooms and virtual field-based learning. Instead of focusing on theory, participants immediately stepped into the role of teachers in a virtual classroom. They led short teaching sessions, responded to classroom situations, and adjusted their approach based on feedback. “It was incredible to experience teaching through role-play in virtual reality. It is very useful for our training,” said María González, a participant from Comillas Pontifical University in Madrid.

Creating their own teaching content and working with virtual field trips also received strong positive feedback. These sessions were led by students from the Department of Geosciences at the Faculty of Education. The BIP also enabled EUPeace partners to visit the 2nd Primary School in Pilsen, where virtual reality is regularly used in teaching. Participants observed an actual biology lesson and students’ work. “It was fascinating to see how easily children use virtual reality. I was surprised at how natural it is for them,” said Katia Sanelli Kusset from Comillas University. Auréa Stamane from the University of Limoges shared a similar impression: “I was impressed by how the school integrates virtual reality. I would love to bring similar playful elements to France.”