Instructional Potential of VR and Immersive Technology – Educating The Next Generation: Innovative Approaches To Make Science Fun

Today’s students have grown up using the internet, and teaching approaches that worked for previous generations are no longer effective. Alternative teaching approaches are also important to expand the diversity of students choosing careers in science and technology. This workshop will highlight innovative techniques using active learning approaches that make science education enjoyable and improve learning. Using the workshop format, each speaker will present for a short time in order to allow for extensive discussion by all attendees. Presentations will include metrics for assessing whether the novel active learning approaches are effective.

Chairs/Moderators:

• Lloyd Fricker (Einstein College of Medicine), who has developed team-based learning in a medical school curriculum
• Sybil Stacpoole (University of Cambridge) who brings experience with the Oxbridge small group supervision system, an early example of active learning adapting to modern times.

Co-Presenters:

• Ron Harris-Warrick (Cornell U.) will describe a variety of active learning-based approaches aimed primarily at undergraduates in a large university setting.
• Matt Carter (Williams College) will describe approaches for increasing active learning in science at a small liberal arts college environment.
• Karen Greif (Bryn Mawr College) will discuss her approach incorporating science ethics and policy in courses for undergraduates as a way to make the concepts more relevant to the students.
• Brad Tanner (Clinical Tools, Inc.) will describe a virtual reality headset and computer programs for neuroscience education, from grade-schoolers to clinicians.

Reference: Tanner B. Instructional Potential of VR and Immersive Technology – Educating The Next Generation: Innovative Approaches To Make Science Fun. Winter Conference on Brain Research 2020. January 28, 2020. Big Sky, MT. 

More info on the author: Brad Tanner