Jessica Ochoa Hendrix: How virtual reality turns students into scientists

The video discusses the development of an extended reality program that allows middle school students to experience marine biology through virtual reality. The program, created by a team of educators and scientists, aims to make science accessible and engaging for students, particularly those underrepresented in the field. It combines VR with digital journaling and is designed for use with Google Cardboard. Feedback from students and teachers has been positive, highlighting increased engagement and realistic learning experiences. The video concludes by exploring the potential of VR to transform education across various subjects.

What inspired the speaker to develop an extended reality program for students?

• Feedback from a seventh grader

• A desire to travel the world

• The need for more scientists in the workforce

• A personal interest in marine biology

Who were the speaker's collaborators in forming the educational games company?

• A software engineer and a teacher

• A psychologist and a historian

• A marine biologist and a physicist

• A marine biochemist and an educational psychologist

What was a key feature of the BioDive program to ensure accessibility?

• It was only available in select schools

• It needed a high-speed internet connection

• It was designed for Google Cardboard

• It required expensive VR headsets

How did the BioDive program encourage collaboration among students?

• By assigning each student a different role in the same location

• By having students compete against each other

• By making each student an expert in a different geographic location

• By requiring students to work individually

What was a common piece of feedback from students about the BioDive program?

• It was too difficult to understand

• It felt like they were actually there

• It was not engaging enough

• It lacked realistic examples

What was the purpose of including student feedback in the development of BioDive?

• To ensure the program was challenging

• To include student voices in the design

• To make the program more expensive

• To limit the program to science subjects

What potential does virtual reality have beyond science education according to the speaker?

• It can only be used for entertainment

• It can support learning in any area

• It is limited to historical simulations

• It is best for language learning