SALINA, Kan. (KSNW) — Kansas State University, Salina is using virtual reality to deliver new soft skills training for students and faculty.
You can perform a variety of tasks, such as giving a presentation, identifying problems in the workplace, or practicing for a job interview.
“Communication is key, and the VR space gives students a safe place to practice and address any issues they may encounter,” said Dr. Michael Oetken, assistant professor and graduate faculty member. “We also use this for students to practice job interviews. They go into a situation with the Bodyswap software where they can experience a job interview.”
It also comes with artificial intelligence to provide real-time feedback.
“You can see yourself in an avatar and it’s recording everything you say and do, so you can think back on what you could have done better. It’s a really neat tool,” Dr Oetken said.
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Graduate student Michael Moran said he found it useful and insightful.
“It definitely adds a perspective that you might not have thought of,” Moran said, “especially in the module that I was doing. You’re being asked to identify things that you wouldn’t normally see, so it’s really helpful to have feedback given to you in real time and to actually point out what you’re looking at and what you’re identifying.”
They are working on how to specifically incorporate VR into their curriculum and courses.
“I’d love to incorporate this into my upper-intermediate, advanced courses,” Dr. Oetken says, “but I’ve also been working with other faculty on campus to see how we can introduce it, especially in courses like Introduction to Communication, where they practice presenting in VR so it might not feel so intimidating at first, and then once they get used to it, they’ll be able to give the presentation.”
Dr Oetken says this provides students with a safe space to learn and practice.
“Ultimately, we want patients to be able to communicate effectively and feel comfortable with their human-to-human interactions, but the integration with AI and the feedback it gives us gives them even more great tools to use on their own time,” Dr. Oetken says.
“I think you could actually overcome your fear that way,” Moran said, “or maybe just practice knowing that no one is actually watching.”
This method is convenient.
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“You can set it up so you’re presenting in front of 20 people,” Dr. Oetken says, “and when you put the headset on, it feels like the room is full of people. You don’t necessarily have to spend all your resources getting 20 people together for a mock interview, presentation, or whatever.”
K-State Salina plans to launch a new degree next year focused on developing and designing virtual and augmented reality applications.
“This technology can be used across a variety of disciplines and industries,” Dr. Oetken says, “so we’re working with everyone from the aerospace industry to local non-profits that are using VR and AR for more ergonomic applications.”
