MSU RCU introduces VR into education
The Research and Curriculum Unit ( RCU) at Mississippi State University is changing workforce education for students.
Through the $ 1.49 million grant awarded from the Appalachian Regional Commission, the RCU has partnered with Transfr to introduce virtual reality technology into the workforce education realm for students of Clay, Kemper, Lowndes, Noxubee and Oktibbeha counties.
Transfr is an education software company that provides immersive, hands- on VR training to Fortune 500 companies, to enhance the career and technical education ( CTE) infrastructure in Mississippi. VR simulations will introduce students to numerous career pathways, including middle- skill jobs that do not require a four- year degree.
In a special kickoff event held at the East Mississippi Community College Communiversity in Columbus on Monday, March 6, students and teachers got their first on- hands experience using Oculus VR systems for workforce training simulations.
In an example such as welding, a student can simulate that experience in a VR headset before they go into the workshop and actually weld. By using VR technology to simulate, the student can practice their skills before they do it in the real world.
VR labs are currently housed at EMCC at both the Communiversity and the main campus in Scooba for students to use for enhanced workforce training. In the meantime, RCU staff will be visiting local schools to teach the teachers how to use them first before they use them to teach the students.
Through the $1.49 million grant awarded from the Appalachian Regional Commission, the Research and Curriculum Unit (RCU) at Mississippi State University has partnered with Transfr to introduce virtual reality technology into the workforce education realm for students of Clay, Kemper, Lowndes, Noxubee and Oktibbeha counties. In a special kickoff event held at the East Mississippi Community College Communiversity in Columbus on Monday, March 6, students and teachers got their first on-hands experience using Oculus VR systems for workforce training simulations. (Photo from MSU RCU, for Daily Times Leader)
RCU curriculum project manager Kyle McDill says this project goes along with the movement of gamifying education.
“Instead of having an assignment, you can go on a quest. A lot of it is like achievements. So just like if you play Xbox and as you play through a game, you get
achievements and badges through the reward system like a gaming reward system,” said McDill. “As they're utilizing this, it encourages the students to continue to play and get those rewards so they can keep leveling up from bronze medal, to silver and to gold.”