Final Project: Evoking Empathy Through Virtual Reality

For your final project you will use all of the readings and discussions we have had throughout this semester to inspire your own creation: a virtual reality experience that evokes empathy. You may draw from your own personal experience, the fiction we have read and watched, and outside research to design a short VR application intended to induce empathy in your audience. You will design this simulation as an entry to the grant competition being held by the U.S. Department of Education:

https://haptic.al/department-of-education-virtual-reality-42f5ce1187dc#.bvdpaqmgi

Please review the specific criteria here:

https://www.edsimchallenge.com/

Winner Selection Criteria

When judging the finalist submissions, including a prototype, judges will recommend to the Department the winner(s) from the pool of the finalists. Each of the following six selection criteria may be assigned up to five points during the selection of the winner(s) (for a total of up to 30 points). The following criteria will be used to select the winner(s):

  • Learning Outcomes. The extent to which the simulation prototype (1) contains clearly defined academic, technical, and employability learning objectives; (2) spurs change or improvement in the user’s knowledge and skills; and (3) provides data to the user and instructor with respect to progress toward achievement of the learning outcomes.
  • Engagement – User Experience. The extent to which the simulation prototype demonstrates an engaging user experience on par with commercially available entertainment games.
  • Engagement – User Interface. The extent to which the simulation prototype exhibits a thoughtful user interface design on par with commercially available entertainment games.
  • Commitment. The extent to which the submission: (1) demonstrates the entrant’s evolution and improvement of the concept; and (2) illustrates the entrant’s ability and intention to improve upon and scale the simulation beyond the Challenge timeframe.
  • Implementation Strategy. The extent to which the submission describes a detailed plan for implementation that takes into account potential barriers such as cost and technological constraints, including integration with existing and future technology, and proposes potential solutions to overcome such barriers.
  • Long-term Vision. The extent to which the submission: (1) demonstrates a plan for encouraging collaboration among the developer community, including making aspects of the solution available through open source licenses; and (2) provides a vision of how the entrant’s plan will stimulate the broader educational simulation market.

To accomplish this task, the project will be broken down into steps.

  1. Individual pitches: each student will conceptualize and present their idea for a project in 3 minutes. The class will vote on the top 4 or 5 projects. (10 points)
  2. Group contracts: in small groups of 3-4, students will outline their plan for this project and assign roles and responsibilities for each student to accomplish. A timeline and due dates will be established. (15 points)
  3. Formal proposals: each group will compose a 3-5 page proposal for their project meeting the criteria of the competition. The proposal will include outside research, citations, and a bibliography. (50 points)
  4. Demo/script/storyboard: each group will create a demo of the simulation by making script and either a video, animation, storyboard, or game prototype. (25 points)
  5. Final presentation: this is your mock presentation to the U.S. Department of Education. You will present all of your research and your prototype using: PowerPoint, Google Slides, Prezi, Emaze, handouts, poster, etc. You have 12 minutes plus 3 for questions (15 total). The final presentations are 12/13 from 1:30-3:30pm, please bring food/drinks to share! Assignment sheets will be provided for each stage.

    100 points total