UAI Canvas: Empowering Teachers to Design Immersive VR Learning Games

Extended Reality technologies have been explored as tools that support the learning process, often through gamification or through virtual environments that allow active learning based on the learner's experimentation. Several countries have adopted the teaching of computational thinking techniques, whether for subjects in the area or not, and we can also find several platforms that use immersive technologies. On the other hand, the content offered for students to experiment can be different from what teachers need. Thus, this work proposes methods and materials so teachers not from the Computing area can design immersive virtual interfaces focused on content and learning objectives. As a material, we propose an UAI Canvas (Uniting, Authoring, and Immersion Canvas for Educational Game Design). As a method, we offered a workshop in which five teachers from the primary education network participated to design and document their games. Experts and participating teachers evaluated the Canvas and Computer experts assessed the teachers' resulting projects. Our Canvas applied during the workshop proved to be a viable tool for teachers and technology professionals to co-design immersive games, with the teachers having the main role in designing while the technology professionals offered support and guidance when needed.