NRW Minister Ina Brandes (Culture and Science) came to see for herself the possibilities of using virtual reality in teaching. She visited Prof. Nacken's Department of Engineering Hydrology on January 12, 2024.
The Minister tested a total of three VR scenarios for avatar-based teaching and learning. First, she explored the VR representation of RWTH Aachen University together with our Vice-Rector for Internationalization, Prof. Habel, and our Vice-Rector for Teaching, Prof. Krieg. This serves to make the university's internationalization strategy visible and tangible. In this scenario, users can find out about the activities of RWTH Aachen University in the field of research and teaching at the information stands of the individual faculties. Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
In the second scenario, Minister Brandes independently set up a mobile flood protection wall like the ones used in Cologne to protect citizens.
The third scenario presented the Minister with the task of entering into an emotionally charged discussion with citizens at an information meeting, where she used her communication skills to professional effect.
The Department of Engineering Hydrology provides an open source software package for the use of avatar-based teaching as well as a total of 11 elaborated VR scenarios and a dedicated server on which the internet-based communication of the participants is handled. This service is free of charge for interested lecturers. Universities therefore only need VR headsets and the willingness of lecturers to try out VR-based teaching and learning settings.
Minister Brandes promised that she would be very happy to promote this offer from RWTH Aachen University, which she seemed very convinced would benefit teaching.
Image source: mkw.nrw
