Title: Teaching Associate Professor, Associate Chair of Biology
College/Department: College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences
Course: BIOS 041 - Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology, BIOS 353 - Virology
Student Enrollment: 335 (Total)
Proposal: This large lecture biology course aims to move away from traditional lectures by incorporating VR. Each recitation section will focus on a specific topic, collaboratively building immersive VR worlds using Spatial.io that explain the concept in an accessible way. These worlds will be available to all students in the course. The project may also integrate content from existing biology video projects and student-created videos. The instructor plans to work with CITL to conduct retention analyses, comparing student understanding of topics learned via VR versus traditional methods, potentially using control groups. The goal is to explore the potential of VR for improved knowledge retention.
The BIOS 353 virology course takes an interdisciplinary approach, covering diverse topics like viral genetics and pandemics while incorporating creative writing. Students will create children's storybooks about viruses, drawing inspiration from various sources including their own VR experiences. This project aims to foster out-of-the-box thinking, aligning with the Strategic Plan, and will involve collaboration with experts in writing and child development. The final storybooks will be shared with children both on campus and in local schools, using storytelling and 3D models to make virology accessible and engaging.
CITL/I&O Collaborators: Stephen Sakasitz, Tarah Cicero, Holly Zakos & Chris Harvey