Open HTML5 Widgets for Smart Learning: Enriching Educational 360° Virtual Tours and a Comparative Evaluation vs. H5P
Source abstract
Abstract
In educational smart learning contexts, 360° virtual tours deliver authentic, cross-device experiences, but uptake is limited by subscription-based authoring tools and free options that restrict in-tour rich media embedding. To address this, we present a library of eight open-source HTML5 widgets (image gallery, PDF viewer, quiz, 3D model viewer, webpage viewer, audio player, YouTube viewer, and image comparison) that can be embedded directly in the viewer as HTML pop-ups (e.g., CloudPano) or run standalone, with dual packaging (single self-contained HTML or server-hosted assets referenced by URL). Evaluation is limited to technical efficiency (resource size, load performance, and cross-device/browser compatibility), with pedagogical outcomes and learner performance beyond the scope. The architecture minimizes dependencies and enables reuse in virtual classrooms via iframes. We provide a unified web interface and a repository to promote adoption, auditability, and community contributions. The results show that standalone widgets are between 20 and 100 times smaller than H5P equivalents produced with Lumi Education and exhibit shorter measured load times (0.1–0.5 ms). Seamless integration is demonstrated for CloudPano and Moodle. By lowering costs, simplifying deployment, and broadening in-tour media capabilities, the proposed widgets offer a pragmatic pathway to enrich educational 360° tours.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Virtual Reality Applications and Impacts · Augmented Reality Applications · Educational Games and Gamification
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Engineering Graphic Area, Universidad de La Laguna, 38204 La Laguna, Spain
Faculty of Humanities, University of La Laguna, 38320 La Laguna, Spain
Department of Fine Arts, University of La Laguna, 38320 La Laguna, Spain
Funding
Recorridos virtuales con fotos 360 para la mejora de la eficiencia, comunicación y aprendizaje en procesos de ingeniería y arquitectura REVINGARQ
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