Abstract
A key challenge of studying biomedical sciences is students can hardly relate the text-based information to real life situation where the science or processes are in action. Students are unable to manipulate the information or make decision on e.g. how the intriguing biochemical processes can progress by just reading the textbooks. Not only would the learners’ experience be impacted, but their motivation to learn would also be hampered. The current project will make use of the fast-growing technology augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) to develop brand new modules for multidisciplinary biomedical sciences teaching. The use of AR and VR in the current project will allow for the advantages to:
- present information as one is experiencing in the real environment;
- enhance learning and teaching experiences using images rather than texts as the mode of delivery;
- demonstrate the applications of AR and VR on topics of different disciplines;
- motivate self-learning and nurture life-long learners which allow for more learner’s autonomy, but without sacrificing the quality of teaching even without face-to-face discussion or real object for teaching as learning materials are simulated as in the real physical conditions;
- enhance teaching experiences and promote the use of “flipped classroom”, allow for more discussion time and teacher-student interactions.
Brief write-up
Project objectives
Making use of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) to develop new coursewares for biomedical sciences teaching, with the aims to: 1) present teaching information as if one is experiencing in the real environment; 2) enhance learning and teaching experiences; 3) demonstrate the applications of AR and VR on topics of different disciplines; 4) motivate self-learning and nurture life-long learners; 5) enhance teaching experiences and promote the use of “flipped classroom”.
Activities, process and outcomes
Five coursewares were developed including Forensic Science Go, Inside Human Body, PharmAR, BioChemLabAR, and the novel courseware DigestVR, which is a one-stop platform for both teachers and students.
Deliverables and evaluation
The evaluation data suggested that the coursewares are easy to use, and without problem downloading to the iOS and Android platforms. The interactive courseware platforms could store the completion progress of individual user, and users found it enjoyable using the courseware as pre-class activities and after class revision. The use of these coursewares could promote the flipped classroom approach of teaching, and students found it enjoyable to use the coursewares which could effectively deliver the content.
Dissemination, diffusion, impact and sharing of good practices
The coursewares had been launched and eventually rolled out to a total of four Biomedical Sciences courses and one medical year 3 course. The coursewares were also launched in outreach activities and public talks, reached out to over 500 undergraduate students and thousands of visitors. The project had also attracted potential collaborations from other institutions. The Project Team will continue to promote the use of this innovative tool in different disciplines of teaching.
