Designing for Environmental Citizenship: Insights from Combining Immersive VR and Dialogue-Based Activities

This chapter explores the potential of combining immersive virtual reality (i-VR) with dialogue-based activities to foster environmental awareness and citizenship. The study presents a two-part approach: a single-user i-VR experience that allows users to explore alternative environmental futures, followed by a group dialogue activity via a mobile app. The i-VR experience emphasizes awareness, concern, and empathy through experiential learning, while the dialogue focuses on cultivating attitudes, beliefs, and skills essential for responsible behavior. The research evaluates this design through a workshop with educators and high school students, aiming to understand how this combination can effectively foster reflection, awareness, and environmental citizenship. Key findings highlight the strengths and potential of this approach, including its ability to capture attention, promote deeper reflection, and support the shift towards digital tools in learning. The chapter also discusses challenges and design suggestions, such as tailoring VR content by age, balancing engagement, and incorporating interactive elements. The conclusion proposes a collaborative, role-based version of the VR experience to enhance environmental education as a participatory, multisensory, and socially grounded practice.