IT Project: Virtual Reality for Learning

Introduction: Virtual reality (VR), an emerging technology in the education field, allows educators to deliver content in a more engaging manner to students. In particular, labs and some concepts are very difficult to understand unless you are physically present performing the experiments. In this virtual reality (VR) simulation, URI Pharmacy students will learn the process of fabricating and characterizing the two most widely used nanotechnology-based drug delivery carriers: polymeric nanoparticles and liposomes. Students will be randomly assigned to two learning modules on polymeric nanoparticles and liposomes. Throughout the simulation, questions designed to assess learning will appear on the boards in front of them. Students will follow the instructions to complete the learning module in a step-wise manner. If a question is answered correctly, they will then move to the next question or the next part of the simulation. If a question is answered incorrectly, students will be provided a hint and will not be allowed to continue until the correct answer is selected. This simulation is designed to provide a “real-life” representation of how these nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems are produced in a lab. Upon the completion of this simulation, students will become more familiar with common lab equipment, such as probe sonicators and rotary evaporators, and understand their role in producing nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems such as polymeric nanoparticles and liposomes.