Virtual reality for tuition

A Frame VR screen image showing four people in a tutorial room with a 3D model of a cross-section through a tongue and some posters.

Virtual Reality (VR) allows us to have a more visually stimulating and interactive space than we might do in Adobe Connect. It lends itself naturally to activities where we want to stimulate collaboration and communication between students, and those subjects which can be enhanced by effective use of 3D models. In essence, students find it fun and engaging, it helps them to learn, and they are more open to using their microphones to talk to each other and to staff.

Frame VR licence

We are fortunate within LHCS to have a licence for the Frame VR platform. Frame is a social VR platform that can be used for tuition or social events (i.e., it allows multiple people to join a virtual space at the same time).

The licence allows us to choose an environment from a large selection of pre-made options, depending on the type of event we’re planning to host. It allows us access to one environment at a time, which can accommodate a maximum of 50 people. If you have a group of more than 50 people, you will need to run your event multiple times.

Access to Frame is via a web browser, which makes it easy for students and staff to enter an environment by following a link. No software downloads are required and Frame is accessible via any internet enabled device, but we recommend you to use a laptop or desktop computer.

Booking your VR session

Only one group can use the environment at a time, so you will need to book in advance to ensure the Frame VR room is available when you want to use it. Please make sure you book some additional time to both set your room up before you use it and to reset the room after you use it.

Links to further information ·

VR Basics Guide – for everyone
VR Advanced Guide – for facilitators
Planning a VR Event – for module teams
3D Models Repository
LHCS Examples

Questions

If you have any questions, you are also welcome to get in touch with any of us: ·

Sarah Daniell (sarah.daniell@open.ac.uk)
Janette Wallace (janette.wallace@open.ac.uk)
Lucy Anderson (lucy.anderson@open.ac.uk)
Trevor Collins (trevor.collins@open.ac.uk)

Associated scholarship projects

The use of Virtual Reality within LHCS tuition has been explored in the following scholarship projects:

Facilitating and evaluating the use of virtual reality tutorials within the school of Life, Health and Chemical Sciences – Lucy Anderson, Janette Wallace, Sarah Daniell and Trevor Collins (May 2025 to October 2027).
Exploring the impact of virtual reality on engagement and accessibility of tutorials for students studying S296 – Sarah Daniell, Lorraine Waters and Katja Rietdorf (May 2023 to June 2025).