Share Paper: Who needs experts? Students designing a Synthetic Learning Environment of the Fukushima nuclear power plant.

  1. Michael Vallance, Future University Hakodate, Japan
  2. Yuto Kurashige, Future University Hakodate, Japan
  3. Tomohiro Sasaki, Future University Hakodate, Japan
  4. Takurou Magaki, Future University Hakodate, Japan

Abstract: The paper is a description of the continuing research into the efficacy of a Synthetic Learning Environment (SLE) to support more engaged academic practice and transformative learning in Higher Education. Students have designed, programmed and created an immersive 3D virtual Fukushima nuclear power plant. The environment replicates the real-world Fukushima reactors just prior to the disaster of March 2011, and is viewable using the Oculus Rift Head Mounted Display (HMD). It is anticipated that such user-accessible simulations with young students and elder citizens controlling a virtual robot will create an awareness and understanding of disaster recovery, and not simply rely ...