How the shores of a VR island promote student well-being and social connections
Virtual reality environments can create safe and relaxing spaces for students, offering them mindfulness meditation and social connection, says Pete Bridge
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I recently spent time on a tropical beach with students on our health sciences courses chatting about mental well-being, telling bad jokes and watching a colleague try to play the ukulele. The birds were singing, the waves were washing on the beach and the palm trees were swaying in the breeze. While this would be unusual itself, even in tropical Liverpool, the meeting took place in virtual reality (VR) from the comfort of my lounge. Our students were on remote clinical placements across the UK – from Portsmouth to Dundee – and we were meeting up via Oculus Quest VR headsets at our regular “beach night” to check in with them and help support their mental well-being.
Virtual reality and well-being
Although 3D VR environments are increasingly being used to support communication and, in some cases, to help with meditation, these aspects had not been combined before to create a holistic support environment. Our evaluation of this solution examined how the interface of these two aspects worked to deliver genuine impact on student mental health.
We developed our VR island to provide support for our nursing and allied health profession students because they spend a lot of time away from their friends and family while undertaking clinical placements. The physical impact of shift work and the emotional strain of healthcare work, combined with academic and clinical workloads and assessments, mean that these students are at risk of mental illness. With funding from the Office for Students, we developed a VR environment that included mindfulness meditation resources, a calming and immersive location and a range of safe social spaces where students could meet with tutors or peers.
Some of the key lessons learned when developing and using VR for mental well-being support include:
Calmness by design
Our choice of a tropical beach environment was deliberate, and the space was designed to promote relaxation. Other options can hide hidden terrors for some people; for example, a peaceful forest or jungle clearing can trigger thoughts of snakes or spiders for some users. Our software developers employed an architect with specific training in designing buildings that reduced anxiety and harnessed his skills to create calming, nurturing and safe virtual spaces. Careful choice and design of the environment should be a priority for supporting mental well-being.
Anonymity through avatars
One of the lessons we learned rapidly after switching to online lectures during the Covid-19 pandemic was that many students preferred to keep their cameras off. Using avatars enabled students to free themselves from gender, age and ethnicity constraints. We developed avatars that were vaguely humanoid and highly customisable to help students with this and to help them express themselves as they wished. Use of avatars in many cases can help students to engage with others with more confidence and openness.
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Use the VR environment
VR-based meditation applications are emerging all the time and offer unique and immersive relaxation opportunities, yet most of these lack interactivity or any choice of where to sit and meditate. Encouraging users to find their own space and using mindfulness audio tracks to focus meditation on to key elements within the VR environment enables people to take ownership of their mindfulness practice and increase engagement. Many of our users enjoyed exploring the beach areas for themselves to find their favourite place, be that sitting by the fire pit or by the sea watching our capybara chewing grass or the butterflies. To be clear, users watch the butterflies – the capybara don’t chew the butterflies.
A stress-free escape
One of the strongest findings from our evaluation was how much students valued the ability to escape. This included escape from their placement, from their accommodation, their noisy neighbours or the stresses that they were experiencing. One of the key drivers for this project was the desire to provide students with an alternative reality that did not require them to spend even more time on a phone or in front of a laptop screens. Our feedback indicated that using Oculus Quest VR headsets instead was well received; some students referred to their time on the VR island as their treat they had earned and deserved. Few would say this about an online meeting.
Beyond healthcare students
Although we designed this environment for our future nurses and health professionals to support them while they undertake clinical placements, the wider applications of this for other students are considerable. While meeting in VR cannot replace the human contact available on campus, it has been shown to provide valuable social and mental well-being support. With the addition of the mindfulness meditation resources, this has the potential to help other students undertaking remote placements as part of their studies.
Doctors in the 18th-century would frequently prescribe their patients a visit to the seaside to cure a host of ailments both physical and mental. It may be that higher education providers should now consider a virtual version of this therapy for their students.
Pete Bridge is a senior lecturer in radiotherapy at the University of Liverpool.
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"Kama pwani ya kisiwa cha VR inakuza ustawi wa wanafunzi na uhusiano wa kijamii, mazingira ya hali halisi yanaweza kuunda nafasi salama na ya kupumzika kwa wanafunzi, kuwapa kutafakari kwa uangalifu na uhusiano wa kijamii, ""anasema Pete Bridge." Ndege walikuwa wakiimba, mawimbi yalikuwa yakisafisha ufuo na miti ya mitende ilikuwa ikitikisika katika upepo. Ingawa hii ingekuwa ya kawaida yenyewe, hata katika Liverpool ya kitropiki, mkutano ulifanyika katika hali halisi (VR) kutoka kwa faraja ya chumba changu cha kupumzikia. Wanafunzi wetu walikuwa katika nafasi za kliniki za mbali kote Uingereza - kutoka Portsmouth hadi Dundee - na tulikuwa tukikutana kupitia vichwa vya sauti vya Oculus Quest VR katika "usiku wa pwani" wetu wa kawaida ili kuwasiliana nao na kusaidia kusaidia ustawi wao wa akili. Ingawa mazingira ya 3D ya VR yanatumiwa zaidi kusaidia mawasiliano na, katika hali zingine, kusaidia na kutafakari, mambo haya hayakuunganishwa hapo awali kuunda mazingira ya msaada wa jumla. Tathmini yetu ya suluhisho hili ilichunguza jinsi interface ya mambo haya mawili ilifanya kazi kutoa athari halisi kwa afya ya akili ya mwanafunzi. "Tumeunda kisiwa chetu cha VR kutoa msaada kwa wanafunzi wetu wa uuguzi na taaluma za afya zinazohusiana, kwa sababu wanatumia muda mwingi mbali na marafiki na familia zao wakati wa kufanya nafasi za kliniki. """ Matokeo ya mwili ya kazi ya zamu na mkazo wa kihisia wa kazi ya huduma ya afya, pamoja na mzigo wa kazi ya kitaaluma na kliniki na tathmini, inamaanisha kuwa wanafunzi hawa wako katika hatari ya ugonjwa wa akili. Kwa ufadhili kutoka kwa Ofisi ya Wanafunzi, tulibuni mazingira ya VR ambayo yalijumuisha rasilimali za kutafakari kwa uangalifu, eneo la kutuliza na la kuvutia, na aina ya nafasi za kijamii salama ambapo wanafunzi wanaweza kukutana na walimu au wenzao. "Miongoni mwa masomo muhimu tuliyojifunza wakati wa kuendeleza na kutumia VR kwa msaada wa ustawi wa akili ni pamoja na: ""Kutulia kwa muundo: Uchaguzi wetu wa mazingira ya pwani ya kitropiki ulikuwa na makusudi, na nafasi hiyo ilitengenezwa kukuza kupumzika.""" Chaguzi nyingine zinaweza kuficha hofu zilizofichwa kwa watu wengine; kwa mfano, msitu wa amani au uondoaji wa msitu unaweza kusababisha mawazo ya nyoka au buibui kwa watumiaji wengine. Watengenezaji wetu wa programu waliajiri mbuni mwenye mafunzo maalum katika kubuni majengo ambayo hupunguza wasiwasi na kutumia ujuzi wake kuunda nafasi za virtual zenye kutuliza, kukuza na salama. Uchaguzi wa uangalifu na muundo wa mazingira unapaswa kuwa kipaumbele cha kusaidia ustawi wa akili. "Mmoja wa masomo tuliyojifunza haraka baada ya kugeuka kwa mihadhara ya mtandaoni wakati wa janga la Covid-19 ilikuwa kwamba wanafunzi wengi walipendelea kuweka kamera zao mbali. """ Kutumia avatars iliwawezesha wanafunzi kujikomboa kutoka kwa vikwazo vya jinsia, umri na kikabila. Kwa mfano, avatar za binadamu zinaweza kuonekana kama za binadamu, na zinaweza kuonekana kama za binadamu, na zinaweza kuonekana kama za binadamu, na zinaweza kuonekana kama za binadamu. Matumizi ya avatars katika kesi nyingi inaweza kusaidia wanafunzi kushiriki na wengine na imani zaidi na uwazi. "Metaverse ni zaidi ya nakala halisi ya chuo chako, kuanza na hali halisi ya virtual kwa kujifunza na kufundisha, kutumia mazingira ya VR, na programu za kutafakari za VR zinatokea wakati wote na kutoa fursa za kipekee za kupumzika, lakini nyingi hazina mwingiliano au chaguo lolote la ""kuweka na kutafakari.""" Kuchochea watumiaji kupata nafasi yao wenyewe na kutumia nyimbo za sauti za ufahamu ili kuzingatia kutafakari kwa vipengele muhimu ndani ya mazingira ya VR huwawezesha watu kuchukua umiliki wa mazoezi yao ya ufahamu na kuongeza ushiriki. Wengi wa watumiaji wetu walifurahia kuchunguza maeneo ya pwani kwa wenyewe kupata mahali pao pa kupenda, iwe ni kukaa karibu na shimo la moto au karibu na bahari kuangalia capybara yetu kutafuna nyasi au vipepeo. Ili kuwa wazi, watumiaji kuangalia vipepeo <unk> capybara si kutafuna vipepeo. "Kutoka bila mkazo: ""Kati ya matokeo yenye nguvu zaidi kutoka kwa tathmini yetu ni jinsi wanafunzi walivyoithamini uwezo wa kutoroka." Hii ilijumuisha kutoroka kutoka kwa uwekaji wao, kutoka kwa makazi yao, majirani wao wenye kelele au mafadhaiko ambayo walikuwa wakipata. Moja ya sababu kuu ya mradi huu ilikuwa tamaa ya kuwapa wanafunzi hali halisi mbadala ambayo haikuwa inahitaji kutumia muda zaidi kwenye simu au mbele ya skrini za kompyuta. "Kulingana na maoni yetu, kutumia vichwa vya sauti vya Oculus Quest VR badala yake ilipokelewa vizuri; baadhi ya wanafunzi walitaja wakati wao kwenye kisiwa cha VR kama ""kila kitu walichopata na walichostahili.""" Ni watu wachache sana ambao wangesema hivyo kuhusu mkutano wa mtandaoni. Ingawa tulibuni mazingira haya kwa wauguzi wetu wa baadaye na wataalamu wa afya ili kuwasaidia wakati wanafanya nafasi za kliniki, matumizi ya kina ya hii kwa wanafunzi wengine ni makubwa. Ingawa kukutana katika VR haiwezi kuchukua nafasi ya mawasiliano ya kibinadamu inapatikana katika chuo, imeonyeshwa kutoa msaada wa thamani ya kijamii na akili ustawi. Kwa kuongeza rasilimali za kutafakari kwa ufahamu, hii ina uwezo wa kusaidia wanafunzi wengine kufanya uwekaji wa mbali kama sehemu ya masomo yao. Katika karne ya 18, madaktari waliwaagiza wagonjwa wao waende baharini ili wapate matibabu ya magonjwa mengi ya kimwili na ya kiakili. Huenda sasa waandaaji wa elimu ya juu wakawa na wazo la kutumia mbinu hiyo kwa wanafunzi wao. Pete Bridge ni mhadhiri mwandamizi katika tiba ya mnururisho katika Chuo Kikuu cha Liverpool. Chuo Kikuu cha Liverpool kimeorodheshwa kwa Ubunifu wa Teknolojia au Dijiti wa Mwaka katika Tuzo za Elimu ya Juu ya Times 2023 (THEA) Tazama orodha kamili ya wagombea waliochaguliwa. Washindi watatangazwa katika sherehe ya kuadhimisha siku ya Desemba 7 huko Liverpool. Wanafunzi na viongozi wa vyuo vikuu kutoka kote Uingereza na Ireland watakusanyika pamoja wiki hiyo katika The Campus Live UK na IEA kuzungumza juu ya mikakati ya taasisi, kufundisha na kujifunza, uzoefu wa mwanafunzi na zaidi. Kujiunga na sisi kwa ajili ya tukio hili la siku mbili katika Liverpool. Ikiwa unataka ushauri na ufahamu kutoka kwa wasomi na wafanyikazi wa chuo kikuu waliopelekwa moja kwa moja kwenye sanduku lako la barua kila wiki, jiandikishe kwa jarida la Chuo Kikuu.