Associate Professor MacDougall, who directs the UniversitysSydney Human Factors Research Group, begins each lesson with a student-led literature discussion. Students then discuss the immersive stimuli that virtually surrounds them.<\/p>\n
In a lesson on phobias, for example, students handled virtual spiders and looked down from the roofs of tall buildings. In a lesson on eating disorders, students could adjust the body-mass index for their own avatar (digital character) and track their eye movements to reveal preferences for healthy and unhealthy foods.<\/p>\n
It was amazing seeing the students avatars piling in at the appropriate start time. It reminded me not to underestimate students. he said.<\/p>\n
The students, too, enjoyed the unexpected format. It's more immersive than Zoom I feel like I know whos on the left hand side of me and the right hand side of me, even though were just headsets, one said.<\/p>\n
With virtual reality, you can interact, you can shake hands, you can look around your environment. Its a lot different than just your bedroom or study, another added.<\/p>\n
Associate Professor MacDougall believes the success of his fully virtual classroom could be helpful to other teachers, people, and industries. Virtual reality provides another way to connect with people. I hope my virtual classroom inspires this, he said.<\/p>\n
This is not the first time the lab has been used as a virtual classroom. Veterinary science students have also used it to collaboratively disassemble, reassemble and label canine anatomy.<\/p>\n
Hero image: Virtual Reality Therapy students' avatars, in their virtual setting. Credit: Hamish MacDougall.<\/p>\n
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Beyond Zoom: students immerse themselves in virtual reality classes - News - The University of Sydney<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Associate Professor MacDougall, who directs the UniversitysSydney Human Factors Research Group, begins each lesson with a student-led literature discussion. Students then discuss the immersive stimuli that virtually surrounds them. Continue reading