Projects Underway

The relatively new field of immersive 360-degree video is still in its infancy, and little more than a novelty item at the present moment, but has great potential in the field of education. Immersive educational experiences can place students into selective environments, providing them with a "virtual first-hand" experience. This is a fertile area for creative educators, interested in exploring the types of vitual educational experiences that can be offered to students, both inside and outside of the classroom. With this idea in mind, the Gross Anatomy Laboratory of the University at Buffalo, in collaboration with Crosswater Digital Media, proposes the filming of an immersive video experience in which the principle investigator runs through a review of anatomy using a dissected human cadaver. The recording would give the student the experience of standing in the anatomy lab on the other side of the table from the instructor. For students enrolled in a cadaver dissection class, this recording would serve as an individualized review of human anatomy in preparation for a practical examination. For students enrolled in an anatomy course without cadaver dissection, this session could provide a practical experience that would otherwise not be available to them. This session could also serve to generate interest for underclassmen considering taking a course in anatomy, or as review for students having already completed an anatomy course. Overall, the virtual review project would serve as a pilot for future immersive video projects, such as clinical presentations and surgical demonstrations with cadavers.

Project Report Outcome