People

Assistant Professor at DEI.

Jéssica Rodrigues Esteves’s work proposes the iVRE Design model for creating immersive Virtual Reality environments tailored for English language teaching. Recognizing the complexity of developing such applications—which require clear objectives, appropriate technology, and cultural understanding —the model aims to guide multidisciplinary teams involved in these projects. The iVRE Design model is organized into three main, interrelated categories:

Technology (covering tangible, operational, and functional elements), Cognition (focusing on language learning aspects and pedagogical planning), and Experience (encompassing fundamental principles for immersive environment design).

Publications

[Journal] Jessica Rodrigues Esteves, Gonçalves, B. S., & Cardoso, J. C. S. (2024). iVR Design: Avaliação de um Modelo Para o Design de Ambientes de Realidade Virtual com Foco no Ensino de Inglês sob a Perspetiva dos Estudantes. Educação Gráfica, 28(3), 233–252. https://www.educacaografica.inf.br/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/17_IVR-DESIGN_233_252.pdf

[PhD Thesis] Esteves, J. R. (2024). iVRE Design: modelo para o design de ambientes imersivos de realidade virtual no ensino de inglês [PhD thesis, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina]. https://repositorio.ufsc.br/handle/123456789/264483

Sandra Santos research focuses on the study of 344 proverbial potlids from Cabinda, part of the collection of the Science Museum of the University of Coimbra, which represent proverbs from different ethnic-linguistic groups in the region, mainly Woyo and Kakongo. Through an interdisciplinary and collaborative approach, it aims to explore the articulation between African tangible and intangible heritage, combining archival research, 3D digitization, ethnography, co-design, and the development of Extended Reality (XR) experiences. The aim is to create XR experiences interlinking objects and proverbs, to promote inclusive and decolonial museological practices, and to facilitate access for researchers and communities to these artefacts. In collaboration with communities in Portugal and Angola, especially in Cabinda, an 3D Interactive Digital Archive and Visualizer with educational purposes will be developed to help to conduct Co-Design session for the XR experiences. The methodology includes literature review, ethnographic analysis, and participatory workshops, ensuring ethical engagement, accessibility, and the valorisation of cultural diversity. The impact will be assessed in terms of community engagement and the transformation of the museological discourse.