On Friday, October 13th, 2023, Eric G. Bring, MD, PhD, and Tony Cuevas, PhD, spoke about the research in the field of virtual reality learning and immersive learning at SMU. These two fields are the focus of some of the projects that members of the Technology-Enhanced Immersive Learning (TEIL) cluster are working on.
Dr. Bing kicked off the seminar with an exercise to show how experiences can affect learning. He had everyone close their eyes and remember the moment in which they heard about the attacks on 9/11. The audience members shared some of their emotional and physical responses to those moments, which many still vividly remember 22 years later. Dr. Bring explained that this is because experiences where the senses are heightened through sounds, smells, and sensations provide associations that enhance learning.
Dr. Bing then introduced the Virtual Reality Surgery Simulator (VRSS) project. The VRSS uses off-the-shelf technology to reduce the training time of surgeons by allowing them to acquire the skills, precision, and confidence that are necessary for surgery while in the simulation. One example Dr. Bing showed was a student who was very quiet in the operating room and perhaps slightly unsure of their movements before training in the VRSS. After training, the student was confident in their movements in the OR and was able to command the assisting surgeon. The VRSS created real emotions felt by the students, ultimately enhancing their learning experience.
Next, Dr. Cuevas spoke about his 24 years of experience at SMU with immersive learning and technology-enhanced learning. Technology-enhanced learning uses technology to support learning. Immersive learning is an experience that is “absorbing or exciting and includes experiential learning practices”. An example of this is SMU in Taos, where students are immersed in the learning environment. TEIL is the intersection of these two types of learning, which includes “game-based learning, simulation-based learning, embodied participatory learning, augmented reality, and virtual reality”.
Dr. Cuevas presented a timeline of projects that he has worked on since coming to SMU in 1999. The timeline began with the founding of the Guildhall graduate program in 2003 through the Hart eCenter. One of Guildhall’s initiatives at the time was working on a video game to train new recruits for America’s Army, specifically looking at how to integrate learning activities and environments. Dr. Cuevas notes that the success of these projects relies on collaboration. He sees himself as a “connector” of these opportunities, as many projects have bled into other schools such as the Cox School of Business. For several years, a version of Second Life VR has been used to study communications in virtual environments. Dr. Cuevas also touched on the Codex/Enigma Adult Literacy game, Hidden Village Math AR, and the Minecraft STEM+C projects. Dr. Cuevas believes that incorporating artificial intelligence and machine learning will be the theme going forward. He uses the VRSS as an example where students receive real-time feedback. Currently, when doing something correctly, a voice praises them, or if something is done incorrectly, a voice tells them that their action was incorrect. With AI or machine learning, students can receive specific feedback at the right time to improve their learning experience.
If you are interested in collaborating with peers in the technology-enhanced learning, immersive learning, and AI/machine learning spaces, join us for the next TEIL Talk on Friday, November 10th, from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Harold Simmons 116. The speaker will be Eric Kildebeck, MD, PhD, from the University of Texas at Dallas.
For more information visit our website www.smu.edu/teil.