Current Landscape

The Role of Simulation and VR in Higher Education

Universities/College Using VR

• Classroom Management: The University of Northern Texas (UNT), students are practicing classroom management and lesson planning using simulated classroom environments (Mixed-Reality Simulation, 2023).​

• Healthcare Training: The University of Arizona’s nursing simulation center features fully immersive, 360-degree, mixed reality simulations for learning clinical skills safely in a realistic environment (University of Arizona Health Sciences, 2024).

• Emergency Medical Services (EMS): Portland Community College uses VRpatients and ArborXR to recreate and simulate real-life EMS calls in VR, reducing training time by 15% and saving over 1,300 hours per cohort, while allowing students to log essential accreditation hours (Customer Story, 2023).

Key Advantages of VR in Education:

• Enhances learning through realistic, risk-free environments. By removing the risks and consequences of real-world training, VR provides a safe space for students to fail, learn, and improve without harm to people, equipment, or resources.

• Improves time efficiency and cost savings (e.g., reduced material use). As shown by the Portland Community College's 12-15% improved skill acquisition rates,15% reduced training time, and ability to save thousands of hours per cohort (Customer Story, 2023).

• Scales effectively, serving both individual learners and large cohorts, and can help close the skills gap by providing realistic training scenarios in high-demand fields, such as healthcare, education, and public safety.

YCCC Now & My Vision

My Experience

When I took A&P at YCCC, the anatomage table made preparing for tests and memorizing the bones and the muscles much easier.

Anatomage Table

(The Student Success Commons at York County Community College, 2021)

In Biology, I did assignment on Labster, which was like a web based simulation. I enjoyed the immersive and visual experience, and how I could access it at a time that worked best for me.

I'm also aware of YCCC's current simulation/VR technology for nursing and criminal justice.

Labster offers UbiSim, immersice VR training for nurses and educators

(UbiSim | Virtual Reality Training and Simulation for Nursing, n.d.)

Moving Forward

Engineering

Medical

Sciences

Mechanical design education at the University of Michigan

The John Radcliffe Hospital, affiliated with Oxford University Hospitals

The US Department of Education and Polyhedron Learning Media's Virtual Physics Lab

(VR Labs, Simulations, and Classroom for Higher Education, n.d.)

YCCC Nursing Simulator

YCCC EMT Program

Incorporate simulation programs (like UbiSim by Labster, SimX, IXRLABS, VRpatients, and/or ArborXR), immersive setups with virtual or mixed reality devices (like Oculus, Meta Quest, and/or HTC's headsets) and any additional simulation technology if needed

YCCC Education Program

Recommendations

Expanding Simulation, VR, and Mixed Reality Capabilities

A. Nursing Program

• Easily set up realistic mixed or virtual reality scenarios for students. VR can simulate diverse patient demographics and conditions, as well as recreate high-pressure scenarios, such as code blues or mass casualty events, enabling students to integrate clinical judgment and leadership skills while practicing safely.

• Allow student to make decisions in high-stake situations while minimizing risk. Immersive VR environments provide safe spaces for practicing invasive procedures or error-prone tasks (e.g., catheter insertion or medication administration) without harm to patients.

Using VRpatients and ArborXR

B. Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Program

• Easily set up realistic mixed or virtual reality emergency response situations for students.

• Students can train in a virtual ambulance setting to hone skills in confined spaces, such as safely transporting patients or managing equipment.

• Platforms like VRpatients can help students log hours toward accreditation.

Using VRpatients and ArborXR

C. Education Program

• Mixed-reality environments can allow future educators to practice managing diverse classroom settings, addressing behavioral challenges, and tailoring instruction to student needs.

• Students can engage in virtual parent-teacher conferences or collaborate with virtual colleagues to develop strong communication and ethical practices.

Using Mursion, Inc.’s virtual reality training software, like at the University of North Texas

Mixed Reality Example

Mixed Reality Example

Closing Thoughts

By integrating cutting-edge VR platforms and learning from institutions like UNT, PCC, and the University of Arizona, YCCC can transform its programs and become a leader in immersive education among community colleges. With strategic investment in tools like ArborXR and VRPatients, YCCC will empower students with innovative, efficient, and future-ready training opportunities.

Bibliography

  Customer Story: Why Portland Community College Switched from Oculus for Business to ArborXR - ArborXR. (2023, November 7). ArborXR. https://arborxr.com/blog/customer-story-why-portland-community-college-switched-from-oculus-for-business-to-arborxr/
  Education Degree Academic Map. (2024). York County Community College. https://yccc.b-cdn.net/app/uploads/2024/03/Education-Degree-Academic-Map-1.pdf
  Emergency Medical Technician. (n.d.). York County Community College. Retrieved December 8, 2024, from https://www.yccc.edu/degree/emt_training/
  Mixed-reality simulation provides practical teaching experience for UNT students — minus the classroom. (2023, December 21). University of North Texas News. https://news.unt.edu/news/2023/mixed-reality-simulation-provides-practical-teaching-experience-unt-students-e28094-minus.html
  Nursing Associate In Science. (2023). York County Community College. https://www.yccc.edu/app/uploads/2023/02/Nursing-AS-23-24.pdf
  The Student Success Commons at York County Community College. (2021, October 6). An exciting day at the SSC. https://www.facebook.com/YCCCSSC/posts/an-exciting-day-at-the-sscour-anatomage-table-is-up-and-running-for-our-pre-nurs/10161410360474968/
  UbiSim | Virtual Reality Training and Simulation for Nursing. (n.d.). Retrieved December 8, 2024, from https://www.ubisimvr.com/
  University of Arizona Health Sciences. (2024, May 3). Mixed Reality: Training nursing students with modern technology [Video recording]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xbfskwLGQM
  VR Labs, Simulations, and Classroom for Higher Education. (n.d.). IXRLABS. Retrieved December 8, 2024, from https://www.ixrlabs.com/
  VRpatients. (2024, June 5). VRpatients Release 9 - Spatial Mixed Reality for Out of Hospital and Clinical Learners [Video recording]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPtXRcE8wEY