My Hometown Project

Cultural Exchange with Virtual Travel

Explore the lesser traveled path through the eyes of someone who grew up in these places.
Hearing personal experiences from hometowns all over the world.

My Hometown Project

Exploring Immersive Storytelling for a Post COVID-19 Tourism Industry

My Hometown Project is a great idea that encourages people to explore lesser-traveled paths through the eyes of those who grew up in those places. It is an immersive storytelling project that seeks to connect humans with virtual travel, and help to create a new post-COVID-19 tourism industry. It allows people to explore and experience personal stories from hometowns all over the world, creating a unique and meaningful way to travel. Tourism may be changed forever due to a health pandemic. But that won't stop humans from seeking human connection in the world. Using immersive technology like augmented and virtual reality, we can explore the world in a different way. Perhaps it is not the same as traditional travel, but there are some forms of travel that might be better than before. This project seeks to connect humans with virtual travel.  The project also has a focus on sustainability, as it encourages people to explore more climate-friendly options for travel. This is especially important in the wake of the pandemic, as tourism is one of the industries that has been hit hardest by the crisis. The My Hometown Project seeks to create a positive and sustainable future for the tourism industry, helping it to become more resilient and sustainable. Additionally, it helps to promote cultural exchange and understanding, as it exposes people to different cultures and experiences. Students are excited about the My Hometown Project. Many are saying that it is a great way to explore and experience the world without having to physically travel. They also appreciate the project's focus on sustainability, as it encourages people to take advantage of more climate-friendly options for travel. Additionally, students are saying that the project provides a unique and meaningful way to travel, as it allows them to explore personal stories from hometowns all over the world. Anyone can benefit from participating in the My Hometown Project. However, students, travelers, and those interested in exploring lesser-traveled paths can benefit the most from participating. By participating, students can gain a better understanding of the world, travelers can experience unique and meaningful journeys, and those interested in exploring lesser-traveled paths can discover and experience new cultures and stories.

As seen on TEDx

My Hometown Project

How to Participate

It works a lot like taking an online class.  You will need to register as an individual or a class with your teacher. Then you will begin a journey to learn how to create a compelling virtual tour of your hometown while exploring the hometowns of others all over the world.

6-10 Weeks

Courses will be guided over several weeks, after that you will be able to revisit lessons and go at your own pace.

1-3 Projects

You will complete two mini-projects during this course to prepare you for making a larger third project.

15-30 Hours

We suggest a pace at about 2-3 hours per week to progress though the course for maximum learning

Skills Practiced

What you will learn by participating in this project

Storytelling

Learn to tell better stories to connect and inspire others

Experience Design

Get an understanding of designing experiences

Immersive Technology

Know the basics of augmented and virtual reality
The Hometown Map

Explore some of our most memorable stories and tours from around the world.

Hometown Map

Join the Project

Contact Us

Our VR Lobby

Explore our VR Tours from our collaborative VR Lobby

Testimonials

"I feel like I have learned a miriad of skills that will help me navagate the tourism and hospitality industry in my country"

Shafira Azzahra

Shafira Azzahra 

Palembang, South Sumatra

"マイホームタウンプロジェクトの中で改めて地元の魅力を感じられてICTの進化に驚きながらも一生懸命勉強できたかなと思っいいます"

Akari Sone

Akari Sone

Kagawa, Japan

Eric Hawkinson
Eric Hawkinson
Project Creator and Coordinator

Eric is a learning futurist, tinkering with and designing technologies that may better inform the future of teaching and learning.

This project is part of the Together Learning Community

Global Collaborative Learning Projects

Why Me Project

Why Me?

6-8 Weeks

15-20 Hours

Leadership Communication
Explore the 'why' in each of us to better communicate with teams and engage with communities

BIG Project

B.I.G. Project

3-5 Weeks

10-15 Hours

Finding a north star to guide us into the future and supporting each other in moving toward it.

Hometown Project

My Hometown

6-8 Weeks

25 Hours

Cultural Exchange
Travel the world without leaving home, exploring communities in virtual reality.

Explore the lesser traveled path through the eyes of someone who grew up in these places. Hearing personal experiences from hometowns all over the world.

We are giving students and teachers a way to visit homes and neighborhoods at a time when travel is greatly restricted

Support and Downloads

This project is supported in part with augmented reality powered by ARientation

© Copyright 2021 Eric Hawkinson - All Rights Reserved