Prospectus

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Learning through Virtual Reality

Course
2016-2017

Admission requirements

This course is an Honours Class and therefore in principle only available to students of the Honours College. There are a few places available for regular students. The course is aimed at third-year Honours College students. Because of the nature of this course the goal is to have at least half of the participants with some coding experience.

Description

Over the past few years, developments in Virtual Reality (VR) technologies have skyrocketed. Anyone who has tried a recent VR headset can imagine the enormous potential VR has for gaming and cinema.

VR is also very promising for the field of education. By wearing a headset, students could for example:

  • explore archeological sites;

  • analyze atoms and molecules in 3D; or

  • see 360 footage of political protests.

In this course you will study and experience state-of-the-art Virtual Reality content, analyze VR as a learning tool, and learn basic skills for VR development. You will work together with students from various disciplines to create a VR prototype, allowing you to explore your (inter-)disciplinary interests and to learn how these could be expressed through VR.

Course objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students

  • are familiar with state-of-the-art VR technology, its current limitations and near-future developments;

  • have experienced and analyzed current state-of-the art VR applications;

  • can identify in what ways VR is different from and similar to other media;

  • can identify in what ways the characteristics of VR can be applied for learning purposes;

  • are able to create basic interactive content for VR using Unity3D and 360˚ film technology;

  • have completed a VR prototype that has potential value for education.

Timetable

Tuesdays 19:00-21:30 on 4, 11, 18, 25 October; 1, 8, 22, 29 November; 13 December.

Location

The Old Observatory, Room C1.04 (Sitterzaal)

Programme

This course will consist of lectures, workshops, guest lectures, project presentations and a final symposium.

Precise schedule to be announced.

Course Load

This course is worth 5 EC, which means the total course load equals 140 hours.

  • Lectures and workshops: 11 sessions of 2 hours = 22 hours

  • Literature reading & practical work: 2 hours per session = 22 hours

  • Small assignments: 12 hours

  • Final assignment: 60 hours

  • Final essay: 24 hours

Assessment method

  • 20% Course contribution and small assignments

  • 60% Final project

  • 20% Final paper

Blackboard and uSis

Blackboard will not be used in this course.

Please note: students are not required to register through uSis for the Honours Classes. Your registration will be done centrally.

Reading list

The reading material will be made available through our learning management system.

Registration

Enrolling in this course is possible from August 17th until September 5th through the Honours Academy, via this link

Contact

Robin de Lange