How Virtual Walkthroughs Can Help Schools Reopen with Confidence
As the COVID-19 pandemic spread in the spring of 2020, causing schools to shut down around the world, the question on everybody’s mind was: when will we be able to safely reopen them?
Six months later, we are still asking the same question. Not just for the sake of all our childrens’ developmental health, but because of the larger impact school shutdowns are having on teachers, families, and the economy. Parents are finding it harder and harder to juggle homeschooling duties, jobs, and overall physical and mental wellness without the predictability and stability a school routine provides.
We believe that our groundbreaking 3D virtual platform can be a key ingredient in helping schools reopen safely as soon as local restrictions are lifted.
Here are four ways 3D Virtual Tours can help schools safely reopen:
1. Planning: A Virtual Tour is a great asset for COVID-compliant planning. The facilities team can easily figure out how students will walk through hallways, enter and exit bathrooms, and access sanitation stations in Floorplan view. They can also configure classrooms and common areas, like the cafeteria, so that seating is accurately distanced with Measurement Mode. In addition, giving First Responders access to a Virtual Tour of the school provides them with vital information - such as entry and access points - in case an emergency strikes.
2. Safety: It’s critical for everyone to understand how the new flow of the school is following COVID regulations and keeping everyone safe. Once a school has reconfigured classrooms, the directional flow of common spaces, and where everyone can find sanitizing stations, they can share a Virtual Tour with students, parents and school faculty to familiarize themselves before they head back. They’ll gain peace of mind knowing that all precautions have been taken, as well as what to expect in the classroom and common areas. Images, links and videos can be embedded to further explain what has been done to ensure their safety.
3. Transparency: A Virtual Tour gives everyone full visibility into how the school will operate in a COVID world. This level of transparency is readily accessible by anyone with permission to access the link. In addition, prospective students and parents can safely visit the school virtually, eliminating the need for physical tours, which also saves administrators hours conducting school tours throughout the year.
4. Confidence: A Virtual Tour provides everyone the information they need to feel more confident about going back to school safely during these unprecedented times. Full transparency and visibility can help restore normalcy in our communities again.