In order to celebrate the centenary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the Open University of China (OUC) and Zhongtuyunchuang Smart Technology (Beijing), a subsidiary of China National Publications Import & Export Group (CNPIEC), have jointly launched "Lectures on Red Current and Starlight", a series of party-history lectures presented via immersive virtual reality and targeting national ideological and political education.

The first lecture, "Creation of a New World – the Birth of the CPC", recently appeared online.

The project was officially launched in March 2021, with the OUC Department of Learning Resources (Digital Library) responsible for coordination and Zhongtuyunchuang Smart Technology (Beijing) for course development, while the OUC Department of Learning Resources, the School of Marxism, and the Science and Education Business Department of Zhongtuyunchuang Smart Technology (Beijing) collaborated on implementation. The project team selected people and events of the last century that changed the fate of modern China and promoted national rejuvenation. They used ultra-high-definition 5G panoramic-3D technology and narration to immerse viewers in the history while also giving them a deep grasp of ideology, politics and party history.

Students can access the materials, which include 3D animation, audio, video, and graphics-augmented text, via panoramic LED screens, VR glasses, mobile phones, or other terminals. The project also plans to add interactive functions in a future version by making use of built-in sensors and related technologies to help learners pursue points of interest to them in the form of texts, graphics, audio, video, hyperlinks, and so on, via remote control, eye control, touch, and other means, breaking through the linear and time-limited forms of traditional resources. A panoramic classroom is not only an impressive visual experience that promotes engagement, but also a rich source of information, and a model of future IT-based classrooms.

By Zhou Xiang, OUC