At Danvers Public Schools in Massachusetts, students with special needs are using immersive technology to learn and practice important life skills.

When school psychologists reported that some students felt anxious about visiting new places that came with unfamiliar sensory experiences, the district purchased a 360-degree camera to create virtual tours of various locations — from the district’s middle school to the city’s downtown area.

“This was one way we thought we could help those students practice in advance with some of the places they were going,” shared Jeff Liberman, director of technology and information resources at Danvers Public Schools, in a previous interview with EdTech.

Equipped with virtual reality headsets, students were able to explore new surroundings in a low-stress environment on the tours. It was especially transformative for students who were taking a life skills class where they received assistance on workplace transition and vocational training.