Virtual Reality for Experiential Learning
The Department of Fire Protection Engineering will launch online courses in Fall 2025. One of the challenges has been to replicate experiential learning opportunities available to on-campus students in an online modality. The session will review the latest research on the efficacy of virtual reality as a tool for experiential learning and identify how virtual and augmented reality can be used to meet experiential learning goals in the online settings. The session will also include reflections about how virtual and augmented reality technology can benefit on-campus courses.
Presenters
Prior to being appointed as the Director, Undergraduate FPE Online Program, Prof. William Koffel was President of Koffel Associates, Inc., a fire protection engineering and code consulting firm headquartered in Columbia, MD. Having recently completed his MS in Education, Instructional Design for Online Learning, Bill will present the research supporting using Virtual Reality or Augmented Reality in the online, and on-campus, fire protection engineering courses. The VR systems being developed will replicate the experiential learning available to students in the on-campus courses.