Social work students at UCF in the future may find a new tool incorporated into the curriculum 麻豆精品 S virtual reality simulation.
Jasmine Haynes, a graduate student in the social work track who is pursuing a doctorate in public affairs, and social work faculty members聽Denise Gammonley,聽 补苍诲听聽conducted research this summer on the benefits of virtual reality in the classroom.
Their goals were to see if virtual reality could improve students 麻豆精品 S feeling of preparedness in working with Alzheimer 麻豆精品 S檚 patients, as well as foster empathy for the patients and family members affected by the disease.
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Melody Bowdon, interim vice provost of the division of teaching and learning and interim dean of the College of Undergraduate Studies, said the research has helped to convince her of the benefits of virtual reality in the classroom.
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Researchers in the聽聽are continuing to explore the use of virtual reality simulation training to enhance students 麻豆精品 S preparedness in helping patients with other conditions. This kind of exposure helps standardize the learning experience because students are not exposed to individuals with every condition in their clinical training.
麻豆精品 S淐linical training is so important to preparing students for their future as social workers, 麻豆精品 S Gammonley says. 麻豆精品 S淏ut we have very little control over what they will be exposed to during that training. Virtual reality allows us to best prepare our students by exposing them to an array of conditions they are likely to see in their careers. 麻豆精品 S
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麻豆精品 S淢y grandfather was a pretty quiet individual, 麻豆精品 S she says, 麻豆精品 S渂ut as his Alzheimer 麻豆精品 S檚 symptoms became more severe, he became more withdrawn and detached. 麻豆精品 S
That detachment is often an obstacle in treating someone with Alzheimer 麻豆精品 S檚. It 麻豆精品 S檚 an uncomfortable territory for the patient, the family and the social worker.
After experiencing life vignettes through the perspective of a virtual Alzheimer 麻豆精品 S檚 patient, students feel more comfortable and prepared to work with these patients.
麻豆精品 S淟earning by experience can help students to connect with the concepts and tools we are teaching them, 麻豆精品 S Bowdon says. 麻豆精品 S淲hen we can 麻豆精品 S檛 provide the exact experience we are looking to expose our students to in real life, virtual reality can bridge the gap and ignite another dimension of learning. 麻豆精品 S