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Transcript/Script((PLAYBOOK SLUG: LogOn: Virtual Reality Classroom (TV/R)
HEADLINE: ‘Remote Learning’ Takes on New Meaning in Virtual Reality
TEASER: Virtual reality classrooms allow teachers, students, to meet and collaborate
PUBLISHED AT: 2/1/2022 at 8:15am
BYLINE: Tina Trinh
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Stamford, Connecticut
VIDEOGRAPHER: Tina Trinh
PRODUCER: Tina Trinh
SCRIPT EDITORS: Michelle Quinn, MAS
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA original, The Glimpse Group, University of Connecticut
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO _X_
TRT: 1:58
VID APPROVED BY: MAS
TYPE: TVPKG
UPDATE: ))
((INTRO))
[[As the pandemic continues to disrupt academia, some teachers are turning to alternative ways to keep students engaged. At the University of Connecticut, Tina Trinh visited one class held partly in virtual reality.]]
((NARRATOR))
When Chinedu Nkwo (“chuh-NAY-doo OON-kwah”) decided to enroll in an entrepreneurship class at the University of Connecticut, he had to learn to how to walk . . . using controllers in virtual reality.
((Chinedu Nkwo, University of Connecticut Student))
“And that took some time to figure out like ‘Oh, if I flick it this way, I can go all across the room’ or I could go like one step.’”
((NARRATOR))
Nkwo’s class met for brief virtual reality sessions using Oculus headsets.
Class instructor Tara Watrous (“TAR-uh WAH-truss”) says the idea to use VR came about during the pandemic, as she and her colleagues faced the challenges of teaching online.
((Tara Watrous, University of Connecticut Instructor))
“It was very easy for students to turn off their Zoom, to mute their microphones. And so what we were finding was that when we were teaching, it was really difficult to connect with our students.”
[[FOR RADIO: Kripa Marvadi is a student at the University of Connecticut]]
((Kripa Marvadi, University of Connecticut Student))
“In the VR space, it’s kind of impossible to like get distracted and just like, take off the headset cause then you're out of class.”
((NARRATOR))
The VR headsets feature something called “positional audio” — users can hear others in front of, besides and behind them, relative to their location in the room. It adds to the feeling of being in a real classroom.
Students say in VR, they’re more engaged, but it’s unclear whether using the technology actually helps with learning and retention. Watrous says it does.
[[FOR RADIO: Tara Watrous]]
((Tara Watrous, University of Connecticut Instructor))
“The exposure to different opportunities that students wouldn't be able to have otherwise is a really important piece . . . to be exposed to a wide variety of cultures, backgrounds, problems . . .”
((NARRATOR))
And VR can help spark new ideas, say some educators.
[[FOR RADIO: David Noble is the director of the Peter J. Werth Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Connecticut]]
((David Noble, University of Connecticut Technology and Innovation Expert))
“The use of technology in their, in students’ actual lives, especially emerging technology, makes it real such that they can start to imagine solutions using that technology.”
[[FOR RADIO: Sabrina Uva is a senior at the University of Connecticut))
((Sabrina Uva, University of Connecticut student))
“This was the first time I was exposed to virtual reality, and now I’m in the Stamford startup studio where I’m actually using VR in my work. We’re actually doing a re-fit project where we’re visualizing a retail space in virtual reality.”
((NARRATOR))
For these students, what’s “virtual” today could eventually be a part of the real world tomorrow.
Tina Trinh, VOA News, Stamford, Connecticut.
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)Stamford, Connecticut
BylineTina Trinh
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
