Design educators have limited exposure to feedback-giving practices. This issue stems from the predominantly private nature of feedback delivery, which limits educators' exposure to strategies to enhance their feedback techniques.

The central research question addressed in this study is how Virtual Reality (VR) can provide an effective method for design educators to overcome these limitations by immersing them in dynamic classroom observation experiences. Despite its potential, VR in design education has received limited attention in existing literature. This study seeks to fill this gap by examining the transformative potential of VR as a tool to enhance educators' feedback practices.

A case study was conducted at the American University of Sharjah's Department of Art and Design, involving eight faculty members from diverse design disciplines. Participants underwent a VR training module where they observed and evaluated scripted feedback interactions between a student and an instructor. The training highlighted key challenges, including vague or biased feedback, and provided practical strategies to improve feedback quality. Data was collected over a four-week period through pre- and post-training surveys and focus group discussions, with findings indicating a 40% improvement in participants' ability to deliver constructive and motivational feedback. Respondents emphasized the immersive nature of VR as a transformative tool, citing increased awareness of verbal and non-verbal communication cues and their impact on student engagement.

This research demonstrates the measurable effectiveness of VR in addressing the limitations of traditional feedback practices and offers valuable insights for integrating innovative technologies into design education.

Authors:
Zinka Bejtic, American University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Ali Matay, American University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Mohammed Mamdouh, American University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

About the Presenter(s)
Dr Zinka Bejtic is a University Associate Professor/Senior Lecturer at American University of Sharjah in United Arab Emirates

See this presentation on the full schedule – Thursday Schedule

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