A naukri.com initiative
Immersivelearning
1M
167
Success Program Launch: Incorporating VR Into the First-Year Seminar
- The University of Miami has introduced virtual reality (VR) into its first-year seminar to boost student engagement and promote feelings of belonging.
- The UMverse VR application was specially created for incoming students, developed by the university’s XR Initiatives team to help boost understanding of campus tech culture.
- The first-year seminar, First Year Directions, was launched in 2019 to acclimatise students to university by introducing them to support services and southern Florida life.
- The VR application is used to introduce students to campus spaces and local communities, providing a replica world that introduces local places of interest.
- To access the UMverse, students are given the option to try out a VR headset, and can also participate in class-based programmes that are led by university XR experts.
- Since launching in Fall 2024, 500 students have submitted pre- and post-surveys on their experience using the VR. Initial positive feedback from students and teachers has been received.
- UMverse creators and course directors are also making sure the VR does not replace real-life exploration, requiring student participate in real-life activities around the campus.
- The university already owns about 250 VR headsets and plans to purchase another 100 over the next two years.
- While institutions looking to adopt VR tools should keep the implementation slow, given the tech’s positive impact on engagements with learning and new experiences.
- The integration of VR is considered by many advisers and instructors as a seamless addition to learning, and has improved learning outcomes.
Read Full Article
10 Likes
For uninterrupted reading, download the app