Workshop on Virtual Reality
On Friday April 29th, a workshop on virtual reality took place within the Gothenburg group. The workshop was held by Mattias von Feilitzen, Educational Developer at the Department of applied IT; and Géraldine Fauville, senior lecturer at the Department of education, communication and learning.
During the workshop, members of the Gothenburg group, a cross-faculty research group concerned with the design and implications of a networked society on knowledge and learning, had the opportunity to test various VR activities in order to introduce the different aspects of research on the psychological and behavioral impact of VR on humans. Attendees went underwater to learn about ocean acidification and discover its impact on marine organisms and also experienced dissecting a virtual frog to learn about VR for learning, training and its use in school.
Through the workshop the participants learned about the immersive nature of VR along with its psychological impacts such as presence that can be beneficial for therapeutical treatments for phobia, and embodiment that can lead to change in attitude and behavior by taking the perspective of others.
Géraldine Fauville is the project leader of a research project that aims to look in to how virtual reality can be used in teaching about the ocean and the oceans impact on climate and sustainable development.
Mattias von Feilitzen works as a pedagogical developer at the department of Applied IT, where he is also director of Gothenburg Knowledge Lab. His main area of interest is how digital tools and digitalisation affects and transforms higher education.