Find answers to common questions about the SIMPLE project, virtual universes, and how to get involved.
SIMPLE is a project co-funded by the European Union that aims to explore the value of virtual reality in raising young people’s awareness of the need to build sustainable solutions to environmental challenges.
Within the project, SIMPLE has developed multiple 3D Virtual Universes (VUs), each accompanied by dedicated learning units, which are used to implement experiments based on virtual reality (VR) in schools.
To launch these experiments in classrooms, the project uses the M2L2 (Mobile Metaverse Learning Lab), its own dedicated device to easily deploy the necessary equipment to run VR game sessions smoothly.
A Virtual Universe (VU) is a 3D virtual world where students can explore and interact with scientific concepts. It uses Virtual Reality (VR) to create an immersive experience for students. The SIMPLE team has developed many VUs with different sustainability topics (salt intrusion, biodiversity, dengue fever and insect biodiversity) across four countries: Vietnam, Thailand, Lao PDR and Cambodia. You can explore the scientific message of our VUs here.
A learning unit is a structured plan or framework that describes how a learning experience will take place. It outlines what learners will do, what they will learn, and provides instructions to teachers on how to handle and adjust the activities and tools developed in SIMPLE (such as the VU). Within the SIMPLE project, a learning unit is designed along with the VUs to bring an immersive learning experience to the students.
A VR-based (Virtual Reality) experiment is an immersive learning experience where students explore a Virtual Universe (VU) using VR, guided by a dedicated learning unit. Through interactions, observations, and discussions, students gain a comprehensive understanding of sustainability issues and are encouraged to develop their own solutions.
The M2L2 which stands for Mobile Metaverse Learning Lab is a mobile device gathering all the necessary equipment to run virtual reality game sessions in educational environments. It has been elaborated so people with no technical background, particularly teachers, can drive the experiment.
Access & Equipment
The SIMPLE project provides open-source resources for schools and educators who wish to run the experiment independently using the learning unit, the associated VU and the M2L2. Schools choosing this option should be prepared for the initial investment required to build their own M2L2, as this is not a commercial product. The project is developing different versions of the M2L2, including a fully equipped model and a more affordable, low-tech, and portable alternative using easily accessible equipment.
If your school is interested in organizing a VR demonstration or in learning more about how to build a M2L2 to enable the full VR-based experience on campus, please feel free to contact us via email (contact@project-simple.eu). You can also follow SIMPLE’s social media channels to stay updated on our upcoming external events and public demonstrations.
The project can be implemented with minimal equipment, including (1) a computer, (2) a Wi-Fi router (internet access is not required), and (3) a VR headset. Documentation for installing and setting up the minimum required components can be found here.
For classroom use, we recommend deploying the project with a M2L2. This device simplifies in-class implementation and comes equipped with all the necessary hardware (computer, Wi-Fi router, etc.), as well as six pre-configured VR headsets that can be easily used with any VU within the project.
The equipment (M2L2) and the VUs developed by SIMPLE are not for sale, open-source and freely available to anyone. All the resources needed to build the M2L2 and develop the VUs are available on our website. These open resources are made to encourage wider adoption and replication by academic institutions, government bodies, and CSOs.
For faster assistance and a more tailored experience, we highly recommend reaching out to our national partners, who are responsible for the development and implementation of each VU nationally: Vietnam: Can Tho University; Thailand: NSTDA; Cambodia: CADT; Lao PDR: BeDev Consulting.
You can also contact us via email at contact@project-simple.eu
Yes. Teachers can access the teachers’ guidebooks to self-learn how to run each experiment. Depending on requests from the schools, the SIMPLE project and its partners may organize training sessions or workshops for interested teachers.
The learning unit usually lasts between 3 hours to 6 hours, depending on the topic. Detailed information for each learning unit can be found in the dedicated teachers’ guidebooks.
No. However, SIMPLE is a project addressing scientifically sustainability topics for pedagogical purposes. Every tool and activity in SIMPLE has been developed with a close collaboration of scientific teams. You can start with the scientific content explained by our scientists for each topic in the teachers’ guidebooks. You are also welcome to further explore the topic and enrich the learning experience by developing your own materials.
The SIMPLE VR-based experiments can be used for both in-curricular and extra-curricular activities. They are designed to complement formal curricula by supporting subjects related to science, geography, environmental studies, life sciences, or sustainability, while also being flexible enough for workshops, clubs, open days, and other extra-curricular learning activities.
Each learning unit is designed to include a final production activity, allowing students to apply the knowledge they have acquired and reflect on their immersive VR experience.
Through this activity, students are invited to produce something tangible (e.g., a presentation, written reflection, project output, debate contribution, or creative work), demonstrating their understanding of key concepts as well as the skills developed during the unit.
This production phase provides teachers with a valuable opportunity to observe and assess students’ progress. It enables them to identify changes in students’ comprehension, critical thinking, engagement, and ability to connect theoretical content with experiential learning.
To support this process, the project provides a qualitative assessment grid. This tool helps teachers evaluate both:
The assessment grid is designed to be flexible and adaptable to different classroom contexts, allowing educators to tailor evaluation criteria according to their pedagogical objectives and students’ needs.
The project provides a structured quantitative evaluation methodology that enables schools to assess the impact of implementing the SIMPLE tools.
This methodology is based on the use of questionnaires:
By following the proposed protocol and analysis guidelines, schools can generate structured data to better understand the educational impact of the intervention and identify areas for further improvement.
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