Gulag XR: Augmented Reality as an Educational Tool

\"European Memory of the Gulag - Augmented Reality as a Pedagogical Tool\" or \"Gulag XR\" is a project currently being developed by an international consortium under Erasmus+. The results are expected to be published in September 2023.
Our project aims to create a set of pedagogically effective teaching materials about Soviet oppression where students not only gain factual knowledge but also develop an understanding of the moral dilemmas and emotional suffering experienced by the victims of Soviet oppression. This is made possible through the use of engaging teaching methods, varied content and innovative technologies, including virtual and augmented reality.
The personal and emotional dimension is strengthened through the stories of real witnesses to various forms of repression: mass deportations, executions and imprisonment in Gulag camps. Therefore, in our understanding of the project, the word \"Gulag\" does not only refer to places of forced labour - it can also be seen as a symbol for all these crimes.
Using our teaching materials, we would also like to point out that Soviet oppression was not only an internal part of Soviet or Russian history. It also affected thousands of Germans, Poles, Slovaks, Czechs, and members of other nationalities who were among the victims of Soviet state terror in the period we are looking at - the totalitarian period of Stalin's rule from the 1930s to the 1950s. So far, this fact has not been widely recognised in our common (not only European) understanding of history, and perceptions of it differ considerably between our countries.
During the presentation we will talk about the history of the project, our goals, challenges and creating VR and AR content: We will go into what worked and what didn't. In addition to the talk, the audience will also have the opportunity to test the modules of the lesson at Memorial's stand: comics, AR and VR.