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ISNS students embrace learning in a world of virtual reality

To give students the skills needed to thrive in an ever more tech-centred world, the International School of Nanshan Shenzhen (ISNS) is one of the world’s first educational facilities now making instruction in virtual reality (VR) and related tools a key part of the curriculum.

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ISNS students embrace learning in a world of virtual reality

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To give students the skills needed to thrive in an ever more tech-centred world, the International School of Nanshan Shenzhen (ISNS) is one of the world’s first educational facilities now making instruction in virtual reality (VR) and related tools a key part of the curriculum.

Building on a successful pilot programme last summer in Virtual Reality, 3D art and animation, the intention is to let students in various age groups experiment with the latest emerging technologies, while at the same time unleashing their creativity, curiosity and passion for learning.  

To this end, the school has set up a special VR innovation lab, conceived as a space for exploration, design and interdisciplinary collaboration involving a number of different subject teachers. 

Using relevant software and materials, students learn to create high-quality digital content and to design “experiences” for VR platforms. In this “VR Lab makerspace” - a place offering the necessary tools, resources and support - they get to apply concepts and theories learned in the classroom, develop practical skills, document their progress, and share what they have learned with classmates and other members of the tech education community. 

“VR is a completely new space and we are one of the first schools to integrate it in the classroom. This space has yet to be defined in education. The students and I explore the VR tech and co-create the curriculum through student driven learning. The students learn to use new emerging technology to translate into creative development. They come up with interactive ideas and have ownership; I’m there to give guidance and mentorship,” says Paola Paulino, Director of VR Immersive Technology Education for the recently established innovation learning department at ISNS. “Students don’t just watch me lecture at the front of class or follow a set of instructions to produce computer graphic work to get a grade. I designed a looser learning space to allow the students to explore, discover, and connect various aspects of creative thinking for VR that we have yet to see. I want them to be fully engaged and take pride in their pioneering work.”
        
In the VR + Makerspace, students can use high- or low-level technology to create anything from an LED light show to a video game. They become familiar with world building and design software like Autodesk Maya, Unity 3D Game Engine, Photoshop and various Adobe and vector graphic programs, learning to draw and scope in VR and 3D space. And, essentially, they have the opportunity to tinker and explore with video editing, image manipulation, coding and 360 degree live-stream broadcasting, and visual techniques.    
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