# 3D Reconstruction of Cultural Heritage Sites as an Educational Approach. The Sanctuary of Delphi
###### Abstract  
In the field of cultural heritage, three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of monuments is a usual activity for many professionals. The aim in this paper focuses on the new technology educational application combining science, history, and archaeology. Being involved in almost all stages of implementation steps and assessing the level of participation, university students use tools of computer gaming platform and participate in ways of planning the virtual environment which improves their education through e-Learning. The virtual 3D environment is made with different imaging methods (helium-filled balloon, Structure for motion, 3D repository models) and a developmental plan has been designed for use in many future applications. Digital tools were used with 3D reconstructed buildings from the museum archive to Unity 3D for the design. The pilot study of Information Technology work has been employed to introduce cultural heritage and archaeology to university syllabuses. It included students with a questionnaire which has been evaluated accordingly. As a result, the university students were inspired to immerse themselves into the virtual lab, aiming to increasing the level of interaction. The results show a satisfactory learning outcome by an easy to use and real 3D environment, a step forward to fill in needs of contemporary online sustainable learning demands. s +
Footnote †: journal: Medical  
laboratory to simulate the processes and actions in physical laboratories. [PERSON] et al. (2008) [7] argued that virtual labs present cheap ways for schools to obtain laboratories for all courses. These remote laboratories offer users, especially teachers and students, learning experiences that might be impractical in physical classrooms. Users can design, develop, and achieve pre-determined experiments that simulate experiences and processes in real-world contexts. All students can be involved and participate, unlike the physical systems where only a few students can do the same and learn. Bibliographic review has shown that software applications using 3D models in Archaeology have been increasing in recent years. Photogrammetry and digital technology applications in archaeology and cultural heritage enhance the ability to create faithful reconstructions of the ancient world and establish proper repositories [8; 9; 10; 11; 12]. There has been a notable tendency in adult education in recent decades towards the introduction of rich media, technologically advanced interactive environments in the classroom or online settings [13]. As these technologies continue to develop, many universities have integrated them into their pedagogical techniques, thus enhancing formal traditional classroom education [14]. Open Universities are examples in the field of Higher Education that use modern technologies with great success, like The Open University [15] and Hellenic Open University [16]. The benefits of interactive educational environments are that they allow access to the required information without time and geographical boundaries. Especially in the case of interactive simulations such as 3D virtual environments, one can try and repeat laboratory exercises several times without cost and risk. These affordances further benefit students' career development and academic performance [17]. The need for adopting tools and approaches such as the aforementioned is more imminent in the field of Archaeology, due to the need to observe, explore and experiment with tangible and intangible aspects of past cultures. By studying the wide range of applications for communicating and disseminating historical archaeology, it is a fact that the emphasis is mainly on'material' aspects of culture and the interpretation [18; 19]. They typically focus on viewing archaeological sites, momuments, or artifacts, and generally material that is already available in physical form in museum collections or cultural sites and/or learn of their chemistry, technology, provenance [20].