Communications of the ACM
University Class Was Held Entirely in the Metaverse
Students found it challenging to take notes while in a headset, though a virtual tablet was available.
Credit: University of Miami
When University of Miami senior Emily Nunes arrived in class recently, she found herself in a serene, outdoor arena near the ocean. Nunes stood in a manicured courtyard facing a large revolving Buddha statue. The teaching assistant floated around the arena, guiding a discussion. Nearby, two classmates wore astronaut suits.
Nunes was wearing an Oculus Quest 2 headset to enter a project created by three classmates for the university's first course where every class this semester was held in virtual reality.
Fifteen students and three professors attended as their self-designed avatars. The group met in a different virtual setting almost every week, including around a campfire, inside a corporate conference room, and in a virtual Theatre of Pompey. Students also designed their own classrooms as an assignment.
"It's been a wild ride," says Associate Professor Kim Grinfeder. "We had a lot of fun in this class discovering new ways these immersive technologies allow us to connect with each other and learn."
From University of Miami
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