Introduction to Virtual Reality in Education
Virtual reality (VR) is revolutionizing the best way students learn on the University of Southern California (USC). Faculty members are incorporating immersive tools into their courses to create engaging and dynamic experiences for his or her students. From athletic training to sports marketing, VR is getting used to simulate real-world scenarios, making learning more interactive and fun.
Sports and Virtual Reality
In an Athletic Training course, students use the VR app "Crash Course: Concussion Education" to study sports-related head injuries. This app provides a firsthand have a look at the complexities and coverings related to concussions, giving students a deeper understanding of the subject. Similarly, in a Sports Marketing course, students take part in VR simulations of popular sports like golf, cricket, basketball, and tennis. They also use an app called Xtadium, which provides them front-row access to major sporting events, including the Australian Open, WNBA games, and NASCAR races. Additionally, students can use VR headsets to take part in Olympic sports via 360-degree video, getting a feel for the Olympic spirit.
Beyond Sports: Exploring Virtual Reality in Other Fields
The use of VR extends beyond sports, with students capable of take virtual tours of museums, explore human anatomy in 3D, and walk through historic sites just like the Anne Frank House. VR also offers experiences in space travel, language practice, and access to an in depth catalog of YouTubeVR educational videos. Faculty members from diverse fields, including History, Psychology, and Nursing, are adapting VR to reinforce classroom engagement. For example, a VR project within the College of Nursing’s Community Health courses used 360-degree video to reinforce students’ understanding of Social Determinants of Health, leading to increased empathy amongst students.
Support for Virtual Reality Integration
The Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) supports the mixing of VR into courses by providing VR headsets, 360-degree cameras, a Virtual Reality Apps Library, and on-demand training for instructors. Faculty members may schedule classroom sessions with headsets, supervised by CTE staff, to facilitate immersive learning directly with students. This support has been instrumental in helping faculty members like Zachary Winkelmann, who found the experience of using VR in his course to be "very worthwhile" and appreciated the resource provided by the CTE.
Community of Practice
For those inquisitive about immersive technology, USC’s Virtual Environments Community of Practice (VE CoP) offers a platform for faculty and staff to explore developments in VR, Augmented Reality (AR), mixed reality, 360 photography, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) design. The VE CoP, led by CTE Faculty Mentor Charles Andy Schumpert, holds monthly meetings where members collaborate on ideas, share implementation suggestions, and recommend recent tools for classroom use.
Conclusion
The use of virtual reality in education is transforming the best way students learn at USC. By providing immersive and interactive experiences, VR is enhancing student engagement, experiential learning, and private research. With the support of the CTE and the VE CoP, faculty members are capable of integrate VR into their courses, making a more dynamic and effective learning environment. As VR technology continues to evolve, it is probably going that we are going to see much more modern applications of this technology in education, resulting in recent and exciting opportunities for college students and college alike.
