The Use of Virtual Reality in the Teaching of Challenging Concepts in Virology, Cell Culture and Molecular Biology
The rapidly expanding biotechnology sector horizon is expected to create a surge in demand for expertise underpinning cell and gene therapies, which are recognized as the next generation of medicines. New and innovative approaches to implement active and performative learning in the Molecular Life S...
Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-05-01
|
Series: | Frontiers in Virtual Reality |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frvir.2021.670909/full |
id |
doaj-83e1bd8fd38a4219aab733d463b7b8f4 |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-83e1bd8fd38a4219aab733d463b7b8f42021-05-21T06:50:24ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Virtual Reality2673-41922021-05-01210.3389/frvir.2021.670909670909The Use of Virtual Reality in the Teaching of Challenging Concepts in Virology, Cell Culture and Molecular BiologyF. Jerry Reen0F. Jerry Reen1Owen Jump2Owen Jump3Brian P. McSharry4Brian P. McSharry5John Morgan6David Murphy7David Murphy8Niall O’Leary9Billy O’Mahony10Martina Scallan11Briony Supple12School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, IrelandSynthesis and Solid State Pharmaceutical Centre, University College Cork, Cork, IrelandSchool of Applied Psychology, University College Cork, Cork, IrelandCentre for the Integration of Research Teaching and Learning, University College Cork, Cork, IrelandSchool of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, IrelandAPC Microbiome Ireland, Cork, IrelandSchool of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, IrelandSchool of Computer Science and Information Technology, University College Cork, Cork, IrelandMAVRIC Research Lab, School of Computer Science and Information Technology, University College Cork, Cork, IrelandSchool of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, IrelandSchool of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, IrelandSchool of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, IrelandCentre for the Integration of Research Teaching and Learning, University College Cork, Cork, IrelandThe rapidly expanding biotechnology sector horizon is expected to create a surge in demand for expertise underpinning cell and gene therapies, which are recognized as the next generation of medicines. New and innovative approaches to implement active and performative learning in the Molecular Life Sciences are required to support this and to address limitations associated with traditional “front of class” lectern delivery of challenging, three dimensional molecular concepts. Therefore, an immediate need exists for the development and implementation of immersive learning approaches in Virology, Cellular Sciences and Molecular Biology to underpin sustainable development of graduate students for academic and industrial research careers. The Covid-19 pandemic has led to significant changes in the delivery of education globally, with online engagement and accelerated uptake of novel teaching and assessment modalities into majority practice within institutions. This development has been driven by externally imposed necessity and it remains to be seen what form teaching and learning will take post-Covid. Irrespective of the pandemic, technologies are available which can serve intrinsically motivated, discipline specific shifts toward enhanced learner experiences and learning outcomes. Immersive virtual reality offers one such approach to open new entry points for student learning of abstract molecular concepts, which will be just as relevant upon our return to face-to-face teaching. Key to delivering this will be engagement and collaboration by disciplinary and technical experts. Here, we discuss global advances in the area of VR and Molecular Science education and assess potential paths forward for teaching and learning impact and innovative education.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frvir.2021.670909/fullvirtual realitymolecular biologyvirologycellular biologyimmersive learning |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
F. Jerry Reen F. Jerry Reen Owen Jump Owen Jump Brian P. McSharry Brian P. McSharry John Morgan David Murphy David Murphy Niall O’Leary Billy O’Mahony Martina Scallan Briony Supple |
spellingShingle |
F. Jerry Reen F. Jerry Reen Owen Jump Owen Jump Brian P. McSharry Brian P. McSharry John Morgan David Murphy David Murphy Niall O’Leary Billy O’Mahony Martina Scallan Briony Supple The Use of Virtual Reality in the Teaching of Challenging Concepts in Virology, Cell Culture and Molecular Biology Frontiers in Virtual Reality virtual reality molecular biology virology cellular biology immersive learning |
author_facet |
F. Jerry Reen F. Jerry Reen Owen Jump Owen Jump Brian P. McSharry Brian P. McSharry John Morgan David Murphy David Murphy Niall O’Leary Billy O’Mahony Martina Scallan Briony Supple |
author_sort |
F. Jerry Reen |
title |
The Use of Virtual Reality in the Teaching of Challenging Concepts in Virology, Cell Culture and Molecular Biology |
title_short |
The Use of Virtual Reality in the Teaching of Challenging Concepts in Virology, Cell Culture and Molecular Biology |
title_full |
The Use of Virtual Reality in the Teaching of Challenging Concepts in Virology, Cell Culture and Molecular Biology |
title_fullStr |
The Use of Virtual Reality in the Teaching of Challenging Concepts in Virology, Cell Culture and Molecular Biology |
title_full_unstemmed |
The Use of Virtual Reality in the Teaching of Challenging Concepts in Virology, Cell Culture and Molecular Biology |
title_sort |
use of virtual reality in the teaching of challenging concepts in virology, cell culture and molecular biology |
publisher |
Frontiers Media S.A. |
series |
Frontiers in Virtual Reality |
issn |
2673-4192 |
publishDate |
2021-05-01 |
description |
The rapidly expanding biotechnology sector horizon is expected to create a surge in demand for expertise underpinning cell and gene therapies, which are recognized as the next generation of medicines. New and innovative approaches to implement active and performative learning in the Molecular Life Sciences are required to support this and to address limitations associated with traditional “front of class” lectern delivery of challenging, three dimensional molecular concepts. Therefore, an immediate need exists for the development and implementation of immersive learning approaches in Virology, Cellular Sciences and Molecular Biology to underpin sustainable development of graduate students for academic and industrial research careers. The Covid-19 pandemic has led to significant changes in the delivery of education globally, with online engagement and accelerated uptake of novel teaching and assessment modalities into majority practice within institutions. This development has been driven by externally imposed necessity and it remains to be seen what form teaching and learning will take post-Covid. Irrespective of the pandemic, technologies are available which can serve intrinsically motivated, discipline specific shifts toward enhanced learner experiences and learning outcomes. Immersive virtual reality offers one such approach to open new entry points for student learning of abstract molecular concepts, which will be just as relevant upon our return to face-to-face teaching. Key to delivering this will be engagement and collaboration by disciplinary and technical experts. Here, we discuss global advances in the area of VR and Molecular Science education and assess potential paths forward for teaching and learning impact and innovative education. |
topic |
virtual reality molecular biology virology cellular biology immersive learning |
url |
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frvir.2021.670909/full |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT fjerryreen theuseofvirtualrealityintheteachingofchallengingconceptsinvirologycellcultureandmolecularbiology AT fjerryreen theuseofvirtualrealityintheteachingofchallengingconceptsinvirologycellcultureandmolecularbiology AT owenjump theuseofvirtualrealityintheteachingofchallengingconceptsinvirologycellcultureandmolecularbiology AT owenjump theuseofvirtualrealityintheteachingofchallengingconceptsinvirologycellcultureandmolecularbiology AT brianpmcsharry theuseofvirtualrealityintheteachingofchallengingconceptsinvirologycellcultureandmolecularbiology AT brianpmcsharry theuseofvirtualrealityintheteachingofchallengingconceptsinvirologycellcultureandmolecularbiology AT johnmorgan theuseofvirtualrealityintheteachingofchallengingconceptsinvirologycellcultureandmolecularbiology AT davidmurphy theuseofvirtualrealityintheteachingofchallengingconceptsinvirologycellcultureandmolecularbiology AT davidmurphy theuseofvirtualrealityintheteachingofchallengingconceptsinvirologycellcultureandmolecularbiology AT nialloleary theuseofvirtualrealityintheteachingofchallengingconceptsinvirologycellcultureandmolecularbiology AT billyomahony theuseofvirtualrealityintheteachingofchallengingconceptsinvirologycellcultureandmolecularbiology AT martinascallan theuseofvirtualrealityintheteachingofchallengingconceptsinvirologycellcultureandmolecularbiology AT brionysupple theuseofvirtualrealityintheteachingofchallengingconceptsinvirologycellcultureandmolecularbiology AT fjerryreen useofvirtualrealityintheteachingofchallengingconceptsinvirologycellcultureandmolecularbiology AT fjerryreen useofvirtualrealityintheteachingofchallengingconceptsinvirologycellcultureandmolecularbiology AT owenjump useofvirtualrealityintheteachingofchallengingconceptsinvirologycellcultureandmolecularbiology AT owenjump useofvirtualrealityintheteachingofchallengingconceptsinvirologycellcultureandmolecularbiology AT brianpmcsharry useofvirtualrealityintheteachingofchallengingconceptsinvirologycellcultureandmolecularbiology AT brianpmcsharry useofvirtualrealityintheteachingofchallengingconceptsinvirologycellcultureandmolecularbiology AT johnmorgan useofvirtualrealityintheteachingofchallengingconceptsinvirologycellcultureandmolecularbiology AT davidmurphy useofvirtualrealityintheteachingofchallengingconceptsinvirologycellcultureandmolecularbiology AT davidmurphy useofvirtualrealityintheteachingofchallengingconceptsinvirologycellcultureandmolecularbiology AT nialloleary useofvirtualrealityintheteachingofchallengingconceptsinvirologycellcultureandmolecularbiology AT billyomahony useofvirtualrealityintheteachingofchallengingconceptsinvirologycellcultureandmolecularbiology AT martinascallan useofvirtualrealityintheteachingofchallengingconceptsinvirologycellcultureandmolecularbiology AT brionysupple useofvirtualrealityintheteachingofchallengingconceptsinvirologycellcultureandmolecularbiology |
_version_ |
1721432388619206656 |