In early October, over 100 students from Biology 204, Vertebrate Structure and Function, converged on the Visualization and Emerging Media Studio (VEMS) to learn about the story of the skulls. Dr. Ken Savage, Lecturer, is a recipient of an ALT 2040 Constellation Protostar grant. He wanted to create a complementary learning experience to bring the specimens out of the clutter of the traditional lab setting, create a visual story of how the skull of a shark, an alligator and a cat were different, and encourage students to create their own story about why they were different. To do this, Dr. Savage enlisted the help of UBCO’s Constellation to create 3D models of the three skulls and operationalize the idea in VEMS. The Centre for Teaching & Learning rounded out the team by designing a VEMS lesson plan and offering pedagogical advice throughout the project.
It was clear from the student’s feedback that VEMS offered significant pedagogical benefits:
- Enhances visualization of complex topics by being able to see up close and at different angles. “It displayed complex things in a medium that was more digestible.”
- Enhances learner engagement through deeper immersion and reduced distractions. “The VEMS lab experience made my day. It was so nice to get lost in the learning experience without the distractions of the world.”
- Enhances memorable learning by learning in a non-traditional setting. “It was a fresh experience for me.”
- Enhances traditional learning. “It was easier to complete the lab activity since I already knew the comparison.”
The students also provided feedback on what could improve the learning experience, and this will inform future VEMS learning experiences.
Do you have an idea that you would like to explore using VEMS? Reach out to the Centre for Teaching & Learning or Constellation and we will work together to bring an exciting new learning experience to your students.
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