IE University, a global university based in Spain with programs around the world
IE University launched an ambitious virtual reality curriculum that required a small staff to manage 700 VR headsets, being used across the globe by students with varying degrees of tech proficiency.
In addition, instructors needed detailed metrics to gauge their students’ progress, and the ability to see what was happening inside the headset so they could troubleshoot and guide.
With ArborXR, IE University staff can see where every device is, its charged status, and whether it is online. Instructors can view each student’s VR activity, no matter where in the world they are, and can troubleshoot issues from a single platform.
The pilot program has been so successful, the university is expanding its VR public speaking curriculum and is adding new VR courses.
Diving Headfirst Into a Global VR Education Program
Innovation and emerging technology are hallmarks of IE University’s approach to education. When the university decided to incorporate virtual reality into its curriculum, it was fully committed to making a large-scale investment.
Public speaking is a skill required in every academic program, making it the ideal starting point to introduce VR. IE University launched an ambitious pilot program to train 1,000 students and faculty to be more effective communicators.
They partnered with soft skills training platform Virtual Speech to create a VR module for giving a story-based presentation.
Starting with the first class of around 20 students, the Virtual Speech team collected feedback from students and faculty. The ongoing feedback has led to improvements and the development of new modules, such as a “Shark Tank”-style experience for budding entrepreneurs.
Developing a VR program was just the first step. Once it was launched, IE University had to find a way to manage 700 devices across multiple locations.
It turned to ArborXR’s MDM solution to efficiently manage both devices and content from one easy platform. ArborXR enables university staff to see at a glance where every device is, its charged status, and whether it’s online.
“Ease of use is important. To make things as frictionless as possible, choose the most intuitive headsets, the most intuitive MDM, and the most intuitive software,” emphasized Sophie Thompson, CEO and Cofounder of Virtual Speech.
With ArborXR content management, instructors can lock down headsets to specific apps and Virtual Speech can push out updates en masse.
Useful data analytics allow instructors to confirm which students have accessed and completed assignments. They can also review the virtual presentations and see how students are incorporating feedback to improve.
VR Training Takes the Fear Out of Public Speaking
Thompson and her cofounder developed Virtual Speech in response to Thompson’s own crippling social anxiety. They created it as a psychologically safe environment to practice in front of an audience.
Traditional public speaking training involves overcoming fear through repetition. But practicing in front of a mirror or a supportive friend does little to help an anxious speaker prepare for the moment they’re looking out at a sea of faces.
Virtual Speech creates an immersive environment that includes a realistic setting and virtual audience. It offers feedback based on proven educational theories and frameworks, and exercises targeted at improving specific skills like eye contact.
I used VR training to bridge the gap between total avoidance and being able to deliver a presentation. Within 18 months, I went from not being able to order my own coffee to being interviewed live on BBC World News. That is the power of virtual reality.
Sophie Thompson
CEO and Cofounder | Virtual Speech
The virtual reality content developed for IE University offers modules including large-group presentations, small-group presentations, and one-on-one interactions like job interviews.
After selecting an environment and audience size, students can upload their presentation slides or notes. In the case of an interview, they can upload their resume and job description so the virtual interviewer asks tailored, relevant questions.
AI personalizes the training to each student, making it more interactive and more valuable than standardized e-learning. They receive feedback on their delivery and on the content of their presentation, including how their arguments were received by the audience.
This tailored feedback means students aren’t truly “done” after completing a module. The VR training adapts for continuous improvement.
“After you finish the simulation, it lets you immediately know where to correct,” said Gema Molera González, Project Manager, Center for Corporate Learning and Human Resources at IE University. “This technology is transforming the way we are both teaching and learning.”
Students of VR Public Speaking Training Improve Their Confidence by 24%
According to IE University data, students’ speaking skills improve by as much as 18% after just two sessions of VR training. Their confidence increases by as much as 24%.
Many people find public speaking terrifying. Virtual reality lets them practice in the safety and privacy of home. No matter how many times they mess up, the technology will never judge them, just offer constructive feedback.
VR speech training can measure a student’s performance more objectively than a human instructor, whose feedback might be colored by their personal feelings for the student or by how many presentations they’ve listened to that day.
IE University and Virtual Speech are developing an AI public speaking coach for the university’s program. The virtual coach will help students reflect on the feedback they receive and apply it to real-life situations.
ArborXR helps educational institutions like IE University explore the exciting possibilities of learning with VR. We can help you create a roadmap, choose the right devices, and connect to trusted developers of educational VR content. Get started for free.