The traditional farm field trip goes virtual

UQ students are using 360° images and video to take virtual tours of farms University of Queensland students are gaining unprecedented access to farms and other agricultural sites through self-navigated virtual tours. The creative approach to teaching and learning is being led by Associate Lecturer Suresh Krishnasamy from UQ's School of Agriculture and Food Sciences. Mr Suresh said students scrolled their way around 360° images for invaluable insights into the agricultural corridor between Brisbane and Toowoomba. "The project bypasses the logistical headaches that come with field trips, such as cost, class size, timetabling and safety," Mr Suresh said. "So far it covers the Lockyer Valley and Darling Downs regions which contain primary production that aligns to the concepts taught in the Bachelor of Agricultural Science course at UQ. "This includes horticulture, cropping, production animal management, natural grazing, feedlots in a range of agribusiness models." One site that students can visit is Boomaroo Nurseries west of Toowoomba, a supplier of wholesale vegetable seedlings to the fresh produce industry and potted plants to the nursery and garden industry. The plan is to add more sites to broaden student experiences and the UQ team is seeking producers and organisations willing to be involved.