Introduction to Virtual Clinical Therapy
Professor Joyce Yip Green’s marital and family/art therapy students launched into an exciting journey, exploring a desert oasis, magical forest, and intimate campfire setting, all throughout the span of 1 class session. This progressive experience was made possible through a collaboration with the Office of Online Learning (OOL) and the utilization of immersive Victory XR virtual reality (VR) technology.
Bringing Virtual Reality to the Classroom
Green was the recipient of a 2023 Academic Technology Grant, which enabled her to integrate substantial technological advancements into her course development. Over the course of the last academic 12 months, Green incorporated VR technology into two of her courses. In her fall 2023 course on psychological testing and assessment, Green’s students explored virtual environments and drawing tools within the metaverse. Students were supplied with Oculus headsets and encouraged to create artwork within the virtual environments.
Key Components for Success
Green emphasizes the importance of flexibility and flexibility in having a successful classroom experience with VR. "How we move and maneuver in VR is de facto different than in real space. It takes guidance," said Green. The support of the educational design team was crucial in planning, anticipating pitfalls, and providing technical assistance through the class sessions.
Overcoming Challenges
As a part of her grant work, Green was joined within the classroom by OOL Multimedia Specialist Thi Nguyen and Senior Instructional Designer Nick Somsavanh, who’re each certified virtual reality instructors. Nguyen notes that initial discomfort and connectivity issues may arise for individuals who have never used VR before. However, the team worked closely together to resolve these issues, replacing faulty equipment, communicating recurrently with students, and holding debriefing meetings to plan for smoother future sessions.
Creative Collaboration
When the spring 2024 semester rolled around, Green felt more prepared to explore the pedagogical advantages of VR along with her telehealth and contemporary art therapy class. Many of her students had already been introduced to Oculus headsets and Victory XR in her previous class. This time, Green had her students occupy a bigger space within the metaverse and split them up into small groups to work on creating different clinical environments. The process was highly collaborative and inventive, with groups taking full advantage of VR technology.
Student Engagement
"The biggest highlight for me was being within the VR sessions with the classes and seeing how the scholars were using the environments and interacting with one another," said Somsavanh. The playful and inventive atmosphere of the VR sessions allowed Green’s students to experiment with creating interesting environments for clinical settings. Some groups created a desert oasis setting, complete with foliage and tea, while one other group created a comfy campfire for clients to assemble around.
The Future of Therapy
Green sees VR as a vital tool for making therapy more accessible. "[VR] could possibly be applied in a clinical setting, especially for clients who’re either immobile or aren’t in a position to travel to an office," said Green. The VR environment could help clients imagine or express themselves in a creative, immersive space, as users can upload anything, travel to anywhere, and interact in ways in which traditional therapy settings cannot match.
Conclusion
The incorporation of VR technology into Green’s classes has shown tremendous potential for enhancing the educational experience and making therapy more accessible. For those that would really like to include VR into their classrooms, the Office of Online Learning and the Instructional Technology team remain a beneficial resource. As Jeff Schwartz, senior director of Digital Learning and Innovation on the Office of Online Learning, notes, "The experiential and interactive nature of virtual reality makes it a beautiful platform for teaching and learning." With the fitting support and resources, VR can undoubtedly provide instructors with recent avenues to explore and enhance the academic experience.
