E77: Building Empathy and Confidence in the Classroom through Virtual Reality

Jill Burrows (psychology professor), Dean Kolebaba (instructor and Program Chair for the School of Justice Studies), and Lyle Ruggles (e-learning specialist) chat about the innovative teaching and learning pathways virtual reality (VR) is creating at Lethbridge Polytechnic.

This trio discuss how they have integrated narrative-driven VR into their classrooms, including what's worked, what hasn't, and what new developments they'll continue to adopt in the future. 

Jill, Dean, and Lyle share how VR technology is helping students practice public speaking and interpersonal communication skills in a safe environment, and how it’s helping to nurture greater empathy, compassion, and understanding for individuals struggling with mental health challenges (like autism and schizophrenia). 

During the show, guests and Donna (host) mention:

• General Arts and Science - Psychology and Sociology Diploma  
• Therapeutic Recreation - Gerontology 
• Criminal Justice Studies 
• Justice Studies 
• Justice and Human Services Programs 
• Wind Turbine Technician 
• Massage Therapy program 
• Ovation VR 
• Chris Milk TED Talk: How virtual reality can create the ultimate empathy machine 
• Sharecare 
• MetaQuest