Enhancing discipline specific skills using a virtual environment built with gaming technology

This article describes use of a virtual environment in a multi-disciplinary context to enhance discipline specific skills. A virtual environment built by reusing gaming technology was modified in a collaboration across Computing, Construction Management and Nursing & Midwifery disciplines. A two-staged pilot evaluation considered (i) a construction management cohort engaged with regulatory building inspection critically analyzing their environment to determine compliance and (ii) a nursing cohort, building occupant's experience in a virtual fire drill. Feedback from cohorts was used to improve the virtual environment and reflect on the use of simulations in this context. Results suggest students appreciate graphical realism in the simulated environment and the ability for the virtual environment to enhance practicality in learning and to contextualize theory.