DCU Teaching Enhancement Unit (TEU) header
Teaching Enhancement Unit

Implementing a custom-built VR system to support students’ professional learning: A cross faculty initiative

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A SATLE Funded Project

Project Title: Implementing a custom-built VR system to support students’ professional learning: A cross faculty initiative. 

Themes: Digital Transformation

Team Member(s): Dr Alan Gorman, Dr Maura Coulter, Dr Emma Coyle, Dr Enda Donlon, Dr Damien King, Dr Stephen Power, Dr Peter Tiernan


Faculty/Audience: Collaborative project between the Institute of Education and the Faculty of Science and Health.  

Aims/Objectives: The aim of this project was to provide a virtual learning (VR) system to develop students’ communication skills across programmes. The project team developed a purpose-built VR system, which was piloted on a range of programmes. The system allowed students to be placed in a range of purpose-built VR rooms. Using a VR headset, the system logged voice and tracked head and hand movements. Students practised skills such as movement, gestures, speech patterns, eye contact, action, and responses.

 

There were three goals for this project:

To embed the VR system across a range of university programmes to allow students to practise fundamental communication skills;
To seek feedback from students and staff on their experience of the VR system and how it could be improved and enhanced to support their learning;
To present a workshop event showcasing the potential that this VR system could have across a range of programmes.