Virtual Reality Workshops

The rise of Virtual Reality (VR) is apparent in many different sectors. NASA has been using computer simulations to train astronauts. Manufacturing companies are developing prototypes without wasting materials or endangering lives. Even healthcare has been using VR to help rehabilitate those who have been through trauma, whether it be physical, mental, or emotional. Pharmaceutical companies are virtually building molecules to create new drugs.

During this workshop we are going to explore the possibilities of using Unreal Engine 4. While doing so, we will be examining our project through the lens of Imitationalism, an aesthetic art theory, to deliver curriculum in a whole new way; as an experience.

Workshop Materials

Unreal Engine 4.19. There will also be short tutorial videos that I will assign. These videos are open source and direct from the developers of Unreal.

“Experience is the teacher of all things.” – Julius Caesar in Commentarii de Bello Civili (Commentaries on the Civil War).

Credence is still given to this proverb. An experience can be defined as the observation of an event as it’s transpiring. VR offers something called immersion; in this regard, immersion is achieved through most of our senses being used at once. In turn, the brain is fooled and takes care of the rest, making you feel as though the encounter is real.

Consider the possibilities. After reading Macbeth, transport yourself to the edge of battle where three prophetic witches await. Use the data processed from a microscope to observe the contents of a cell with a few simple hand gestures. Go to the ruins of the Parthenon in Greece without the expense or hassle of airport security. Let’s take this one step further. Travel back in time to its majestic prime, based on archaeologists’ best guess. With VR, be whomever you want, be wherever you want, and be whenever you want.

Method of Instruction

This workshop is project driven. Every week we will progress further with our VR environments. The beginning of each class will be spent on a brief review of the previous class. After that we will move on to the next phase of our project. There will be demonstrations and it will be hands-on. Toward the end of each class there will be time for questions.

Learning Objectives

–  To familiarize yourself with the Unreal Editor’s interface.

–  To gain a foundation for creating a basic virtual environment.

–  To acquire a strong background in preparation to learn more complex methods of creating your own experience.