Educational Virtual Tours

 A virtual tour for a school, college, or university is an immersive online experience that allows prospective students, parents, faculty, and the community to explore the campus and facilities from anywhere in the world. It typically uses 360-degree photos, 3D models, and interactive elements to provide a comprehensive view of classrooms, labs, libraries, dorms, athletic facilities, and other important areas.

Virtual tours offer significant benefits for educational institutions, including:

• Boost Enrollment & Recruitment: Attract a wider pool of prospective students, especially those who cannot visit in person (e.g., international students, out-of-state applicants). Studies show virtual tours can significantly increase application rates and inquiries.
• Enhance Campus Accessibility: Provide a detailed and navigable experience for individuals with mobility limitations or other disabilities, ensuring everyone can explore your campus.
• Showcase Unique Programs & Facilities: Highlight specialized labs, art studios, athletic complexes, performing arts venues, and other unique features that differentiate your institution.
• Improve Student & Parent Engagement: Offer an exciting and interactive way for families to explore, helping them visualize themselves on campus and build a stronger connection.
• Reduce On-Site Tour Demands: While not replacing in-person visits, virtual tours can pre-qualify interested individuals, answer common questions, and reduce the need for initial in-person tours, saving staff time and resources.
• Marketing & SEO Benefits: Enhance your online presence, improve your search engine rankings, and provide engaging content that keeps visitors on your website longer.
• Alumni & Community Engagement: Offer a way for alumni to revisit their alma mater and for the local community to see the campus's offerings.
• Virtual Field Trips: For K-12, virtual tours can be used as engaging "virtual field trips" to explore historical sites, museums, or even other schools.

LocalMN's virtual tours can include:

• 360-degree panoramic views: Explore classrooms, libraries, dorm rooms, dining halls, sports facilities, and common areas.
• Interactive hotspots: Click on specific points to get more information about a building, department, program, or even a specific piece of equipment.
• Embedded multimedia: Include videos of student testimonials, faculty interviews, lectures, or highlights of campus events.
• Direct links: Link to application forms, department pages, financial aid information, or event registration.
• Virtual tour guide: An optional feature where a narrator (or even a student ambassador) can guide visitors through the campus.
• Accessibility features: Highlight accessible routes, elevators, restrooms, and accessible seating options.
• Mobile-friendly design: Ensure the tour is easily accessible and navigable on smartphones, tablets, and desktops.
• VR compatibility: For an even more immersive experience with VR headsets like Meta Quest.
• Social media sharing: Allow prospective students to easily share their favorite parts of the campus with friends and family.

To begin, simply contact LocalMN through their website. Provide your institution's name, preferred contact method, and a brief message describing the scope of your project and your goals for a virtual tour.