Teacher devises virtual reality classroom to help students

A teacher at Derby College Group has devised an innovative virtual reality classroom to help students to reduce their anxiety in exam conditions.

Glyn Pickering, an advanced practitioner at the college, has created, an ‘AI-infused Virtual Mind Palace’ to provide students the opportunity to learn and revise using the latest AI advancements.

The technology allows students to access a virtual version of their exam room and access mock papers and quizzes.

A virtual mind palace is like a mental filing system stored in a computer or digital device.

It is a method of remembering things by mentally associating them with specific places or objects in a virtual space instead of a real one.

The technique helps students organise and remember information more effectively, making it a useful tool for learning and memory improvement in a digital environment.

Students can play psychology-related games, watch documentaries, get feedback on their work via AI, access the week’s course content, receive bespoke resources delivered to their own desk virtually, get directions to their exam hall, and complete a full paper in the room, as well as watch bespoke videos on their course.

Glyn said: “It is a very exciting project to lead and is truly innovative. It allows students to interact with their subject in a way not possible in any other way.

“It also allows students to explore and develop their digital skills and creativity whilst in an academic context.

“And it is really exciting to be able to give students the opportunity to experience their learning virtually from any location on any device from anywhere in the world.

“It really helps them to prepare for further study and the waiting world beyond.”