WVU Parkersburg engages in groundbreaking 3-D
virtual reality program for simulation-based learning.
CONTACT:
Dr. Rhonda Richards,
senior vice president for Academic Affairs, 304-424-8242.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The familiar Star Trek phrase “Beam me
up, Scotty,” has new meaning
at West Virginia University at Parkersburg.
 |
| Rendering of 3-D
room model |
WVU Parkersburg is
utilizing a visualization software to
create and incorporate
three-dimensional interactive
content into the college's
current Drafting and Digital Animation programs.
"The new technology
allows student content developers
to
produce a virtual image that can be viewed through 3-D
glasses and appears
as the actual, real object," Dr.
Rhonda
Richards, senior vice president for academic affairs, noted.
College officials at WVU Parkersburg believe
the technology has great potential for a variety of training
applications.
“For example,
students will develop skills for using the technology as part of
the Drafting and Digital Animation programs," Dr. Richards noted.
"Once they acquire the skills, they will be prepared to develop
animation or interactivity
for 3-D environments
for entertainment or training purposes.”
"Additionally, this new skill set of
developing interactive 3-D
content will help begin to meet a nationwide workforce gap
for these high-paying, high-impact jobs which are mostly being outsourced to other countries,"
she added.
At WVU Parkersburg, the 3-D
program is also being examined for training purposes for the college's
Machining, Solar
Energy, and Nursing programs.
“One advantage to the 3-D virtual
training aspect is that if you
learn a process using
3-D interactive
images, you can make mistakes
with a virtual piece of equipment and not suffer the catastrophic
consequences that you might in a real world setting," Dr. Richards
said.
"Plus, one can utilize
the interactive learning object(s) repeatedly until
reaching a near-mastery level and easily transition to immediate and effective utilization when placed
on-the-job with the 'real object,'" she continued. "In
other words, students
can learn the pitfalls without the danger of downtime or harm.”
One such learning application for the 3-D software will be utilized in a special
topics course entitled Holograph Applications being offered this fall.
 |
| Rendering of house
model. |
Assistant Professor Laura Kerbyson will teach the course in which
students will be able to envision a complex architectural project.
"Students will assemble a virtual house, bring
it into the 3-D software, re-texture and re-colorize objects, make
objects have interaction and be able to do a virtual walk through the
house via a constructing software application," Kerbyson noted.
The college is partnering
with EON Reality Inc., of Irving, CA,
a virtual reality technology provider for business and
education.
The
EON software
offers the ability to
incorporate
interactivity
for 2-D or 3-D
visualization solutions into learning applications and
learning environments using simulation based learning (SBL), noted Marly
Bergerud, EON's vice president for education
development.
"Interactive 3-D SBL
is a means for seeing objects and reviewing
complex concepts and/or processes in a three-dimensional,
interactive environment," Bergerud said.
"SBL may be an object
embedded in a PowerPoint presentation, a learning module embedded
into an e-learning course or integrated modules covering an entire
course that
allows a
learner to be actively engaged in the learning
experience by moving them from an isolated, high-end static tech
center to an engaging, scalable, Internet-connected network,”
she explained.
Questions regarding the 3-D
visualization program
may be directed to Dr. Richards at 304-424-8242.
cd7/12/10
For additional information,
contact:
Connie Dziagwa
WVU Parkersburg
Executive Director
Institutional Advancement
(304-424-8203 - Office)
