Progress 09/01/23 to 08/31/24
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audiences that were reached by our efforts during this reporting period are Approximately 543Childcare center directors, administrators, owners (individuals or corporates), and teachers/caregivers experienced Interactive Virtual Tours (IVTs) of childcare demonstration sites created with the support of this grant. This number is based on Matterport views ofIVTs created by the support of this grant. 44 undergraduate students at Texas Tech University(22 in Fall 2023 and 22 in Fall 2024) enrolled in a landscape architecture courseexperienced Interactive Virtual Tours (IVTs) of childcare demonstration sites created with the support of this grant. 26 design professionals (including architects, landscape architects, designers, and builders) experienced the IVTs during the 2024 OLE! Texas TTU/CNL Designer Training Seminar. Approximately 37 childcare licensing consultants, technical assistance providers, childcare professionals (teachers, owners, directors, etc.)experienced Interactive Virtual Tours (IVTs) of childcare demonstration sites created with the support of this grant and participated in an online survey to provide their feedback about the effectiveness of the IVTs. Approximately 350 design professionals, academics, researchers, and studentslearned about the IVTs by attending three invited lectures by the PD. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Twenty-six design professionals (including architects, landscape architects, designers, and builders)experienced the IVTs during the 2024 OLE! Texas TTU/CNL Designer Training Seminar. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Newly created learning resources (IVTs) and results related to their effectiveness in training childcare professionals were disseminated via Workshops: One workshop titled2024 OLE! Texas TTU/CNL Designer Training Seminar. Conference Presentation: Two conference presentations inNLGCA Project Director (PD) Meeting in conjunction with the Non-land-grant Agricultural and Renewable Resources Universities (NARRU) Annual Conference andChild Development Research Center (CDRC) - both taking place in Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas. Online Survey: One online survey titled "Using Interactive Virtual Tours to Train Childcare Professionals and Future Leaders to Create Healthier Early Childhood Environments". For-Credit Courses: One Texas Tech course titled LARC2413: Studio III (Fall 2023, 22 students and Fall 2024, 22 students) in Texas Tech University. Web Links: Web links of the newly created IVTs are distributed via emails, websites, etc. to numerous academics, researchers, students, and childcare professionals. Three invited speaker lectures by the PD - 1. Translating Children's Developmental Needs to Designing Effective Early Childhood Outdoor Environments inVirtual Lecture Series: Supporting Optimal Development Through Healthy Environments. University of Nebraska-Lincolnand 2. Translating Children's Developmental Needs to Designing Effective Early Childhood Outdoor Environments at Cardiff University, UK, and 3.From Needs to Nature: Crafting Effective Early Childhood Outdoor Environments. Live Webinar organized by the Center for Outreach, Research, & Education (CORE), PlayCore Inc. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Complete the remaining grant activities and objectives. Publish a paper on the effectiveness of IVTs for training childcare professionals based on the data received via the online feedback survey. Submit final grant report to USDA.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Accomplishments under each major goal during this reporting period are described below Major Goal 1: Innovating Interactive Virtual Tour (IVT)-based training workshops using high-definition imagery with embedded educational resources to train childcare providers. Accomplishments: The Interactive VIrtual TOurs (IVTs) created in the previous year in a total of 6 childcare sites (2 in NC and 4 in CO) were finalized by embedding educational content within the IVTs. The total 'view' of those IVTs exceeded 1200 in this reporting period. A workshop presentation with 33 participants (childcare professionals - mostly teachers and caregivers) titled "Using Interactive Virtual Tours to Inspire Incremental Development of an Outdoor Play and Learning Environment" in 2024 Marjie Collins Early Connections for Lifelong Learning Workshop, Child Development Research Center (CDRC), Texas Tech University, Lubbock. During the workshop, participants experience IVTs created by this grant both on screen and using virtual reality (VR) headsets. The IVTs were experienced by26 design professionals (including architects, landscape architects, designers, and builders)during the 2024 OLE! Texas TTU/CNL Designer Training Seminar. Major Goal 2: Educating the next generation of leaders (current students in family studies, human sciences, and design) using IVT-based instructional modules about childcare healthy interventions to increase children's physical activity (PA) and healthy diets Accomplishments: The Interactive Virtual Tours (IVTs) created as a direct output of this grant are being used as instructional materials in one courseto teach students about healthy and active outdoor environments in childcare centers - LARC2413: Studio III (Fall 2024, 22 students) in Texas Tech University. Major Goal 3: Evaluating training workshops and instructional modules for an evidence-based and reflective refinement/revision of the newly-developed IVT technology to train and disseminate learning resources. Accomplishments: An online survey titled "Using Interactive Virtual Tours to Train Childcare Professionals and Future Leaders to Create Healthier Early Childhood Environments" (approved by Texas Tech University IRB, IRB2022-378) created in the previous reporting period has been continued to be distributed to childcare professionals in Colorado, Texas, and North Carolina. So far, the survey has 76 recorded responses (37 new responses in this reporting period).
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Monsur, M. (October 2023). Virtual Tours to Train Childcare Professionals and
Future Leaders to Create Healthier Early Childhood Environments. NLGCA Project Director (PD) Meeting in conjunction with the Non-land-grant Agricultural and Renewable Resources Universities (NARRU) Annual Conference, October 8 - 11 in Lubbock, TX.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
. Monsur, M., Trina, N., Andalib, S. Y., Haque, U. (2023) Using Interactive Virtual Tours to Inspire Incremental Development of an Outdoor Play and Learning Environment (Workshop Presentation) in Marjie Collins Early Connections for Lifelong Learning Workshop, Child Development Research Center (CDRC), Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas.
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Progress 09/01/22 to 08/31/23
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audiences that were reached by our efforts during this reporting period are Approximately 350 Childcare center directors, administrators, and owners (individuals or corporates), and teachers/caregivers experienced Interactive Virtual Tours (IVTs) of childcare demonstration sites created with the support of this grant. 6 Graduate and 22 undergraduate students in Texas Tech University enrolled in the two landscape architecture courses experienced Interactive Virtual Tours (IVTs) of childcare demonstration sites created with the support of this grant. No design professionals (including architects, landscape architects, designers, and builders) were reached by our efforts during this reporting period. Approximately 100 General people (including parents, educators, and policymakers) experienced Interactive Virtual Tours (IVTs) of childcare demonstration sites created with the support of this grant. Changes/Problems:No major problems or delays were experienced during this reporting period. The lack of high-quality childcare demonstration sites in Colorado and Texas to create the initial interactive virtual tours (IVTs) was a challenge. Two childcare sites from North Carolina were included in the project to address this challenge. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Training Activities: The project provided training to three Texas Tech graduate students to learn using the 3D camera to scan/shoot outdoor facilities (childcare outdoors) for creating IVTs and embed learning resources (e.g., lectures, videos, slideshows, PDFs, etc.) in the online IVTs. Professional Development: The project also created opportunities for three Texas Tech graduate students to participate in a workshop. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Newly created learning resources (IVTs) and results related to their effectiveness in training childcare professionals were disseminated via Workshops: Two workshops (one in Colorado and one in Texas) with approximately 50 participants (mostly childcare professionals) experienced the IVTs on screen, on their cell phones, and via Virtual Reality (VR) headsets. Conference Presentation: One conference presentation titled 'Interactive Virtual Tours (IVTs) for Advancing Nature Connections and Physical Activity at Childcare Outdoors', in Environmental Design Research Association (EDRA) 54, Conference in Mexico City presented the IVTs and their impacts to 12 participants (mostly environmental designers, architects, landscape architects, and graduate students). Online Survey: One online survey titled "Using Interactive Virtual Tours to Train Childcare Professionals and Future Leaders to Create Healthier Early Childhood Environments" (approved by Texas Tech University IRB, IRB2022-378) was distributed to childcare professionals in Colorado, Texas, and North Carolina. So far, the survey has 39 recorded responses. The survey embedded an IVT created by this grant. For-Credit Courses: The Interactive Virtual Tours (IVTs) created as a direct output of this grant was used as instructional materials in two courses to teach students about healthy and active outdoor environments in childcare centers - LARC 6416: Landscape for Learning (Spring 2023, 6 students), and LARC2413: Studio III (Fall 2023, 22 students) in Texas Tech University. Web Links: Web links of the newly created IVTs are distributed via emails, websites, etc. to numerous academics, researchers, students, and childcare professionals. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?During the next reporting period, we plant to accomplish the following supporting objectives of the grant Organizing two training events (one in Texas and one in Colorado) using the newly created IVT-based synchronous virtual training module. Assist selected childcare centers (three centers in Texas and three in Colorado) to implement healthy outdoor environments. Recycling/reusing IVT resources to create instructional materials for two certificate courses (by TTU and ECHO) and four for-credit undergraduate- and graduate-level TTU courses.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Licensed childcare centers, more than 125,000 in number and serving approximately 13M children nationwide, are important facilities with profound impacts on children's health and well-being. Design-based interventions in childcare outdoor environments were found to support children's increased physical activity (PA) and healthy diet; the two most important criteria for preventing early childhood obesity. However, training childcare providers and stakeholders about implementing healthy outdoor environments and disseminating required resources for a cost-effective implementation are challenging. Field trips to demonstration sites offer an opportunity to motivate and connect childcare providers to encourage and educate them about such healthy and active outdoor environments for children. However educational field trips are not only expensive but are also time-consuming for care providers who are constantly managing a heavy workload and struggling to staff their centers due to a high rate of turnovers. Internet-based virtual field trips using the latest 3D camera technology may overcome these constraints related to budget and time. Additionally, Interactive Virtual Tours (IVTs) that embed educational resources within the virtual field trip can provide an innovative, engaging, and cost-effective way of disseminating training resources to childcare providers. Accomplishments under each major goal during this reporting period are described below Major Goal 1: Innovating Interactive Virtual Tour (IVT)-based training workshops using high-definition imagery with embedded educational resources to train childcare providers. Accomplishments: A total of 6 childcare sites (2 in NC and 4 in CO) were 3D scanned (using 3D cameras) for creating new IVTs. IVT of A Safe Place Child Enrichment Center in Raleigh, North Carolina was created as part of this grant. The IVT has 60 embedded educational materials (e.g., lectures, videos, slideshows, PDFs, etc.) locationally within the tour to teach childcare professionals about creating healthy and active outdoor environments for 0-5 years old children. So far, the IVT has a total view of 251 with 125 unique visitors. IVT of Little Giants Learning Center in Commerce City, Colorado was created as part of this grant. The IVT has 6 embedded educational materials (e.g., lectures, videos, slideshows, PDFs, etc.) locationally within the tour to teach childcare professionals about creating healthy and active outdoor environments for 0-5 years old children. So far, the IVT has a total view of 4074 with 261 unique visitors. A workshop presentation with 23 participants (childcare professionals) titled "Using Interactive Virtual Tours to Inspire Incremental Development of an Outdoor Play and Learning Environment" in Marjie Collins Early Connections for Lifelong Learning Workshop, Child Development Research Center (CDRC), Texas Tech University, Lubbock. During the workshop, participants experience IVTs created by this grant both on screen and using virtual reality (VR) headsets. Major Goal 2: Educating the next generation of leaders (current students in family studies, human sciences, and design) using IVT-based instructional modules about childcare healthy interventions to increase children's physical activity (PA) and healthy diets Accomplishments: The Interactive Virtual Tours (IVTs) created as a direct output of this grant was used as instructional materials in two courses to teach students about healthy and active outdoor environments in childcare centers - LARC 6416: Landscape for Learning (Spring 2023, 6 students), and LARC2413: Studio III (Fall 2023, 22 students) in Texas Tech University. Major Goal 3: Evaluating training workshops and instructional modules for an evidence-based and reflective refinement/revision of the newly-developed IVT technology to train and disseminate learning resources. Accomplishments: An online survey titled "Using Interactive Virtual Tours to Train Childcare Professionals and Future Leaders to Create Healthier Early Childhood Environments" (approved by Texas Tech University IRB, IRB2022-378) was created and distributed to childcare professionals in Colorado, Texas, and North Carolina. So far, the survey has 39 recorded responses. More than 75% of survey respondents found the IVTs more effective and engaging than websites for finding useful information about creating healthy and active outdoor environments for 0-5 years old children in childcare centers. More than 75% of respondents agreed that experiencing the IVTs encouraged them to bring changes to the outdoor environments of their childcare centers.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Monsur, M., Moore, R., Cosco, N., Johnson, S. (June 2023) Interactive Virtual Tours (IVTs) for Advancing Nature Connections and Physical Activity at Childcare Outdoors (Oral Presentation), in Environmental Design Research Association (EDRA) 54, Mexico City.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Monsur, M., Trina, N., Andalib, S. Y., Haque, U., (March 2023) Using Interactive Virtual Tours to Inspire Incremental Development of an Outdoor Play and Learning Environment (Workshop Presentation) in Marjie Collins Early Connections for Lifelong Learning Workshop, Child Development Research Center (CDRC), Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas.
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