In November 2022, the Department of Applied Social Sciences (APSS) collaborated with Concern For Grassroots’ Livelihood Alliance Limited to produce a series of 360° VR videos that highlight the living environments of vulnerable populations. These immersive videos serve as powerful educational tools, reflecting real-life social issues and challenges faced by marginalized communities.
Purpose and Goals
These VR videos aim to:
1. Promote Student Learning on Social Work-Related Topics
By using virtual reality (VR) technology, students are provided with an immersive learning experience that brings them closer to the lives of people they will support in their future social work careers. The 360° videos enhance the traditional learning experience by enabling students to visually and emotionally engage with the living conditions of vulnerable groups, allowing them to gain deeper insights into the social issues they study in class.
2. Enhance Students’ Respect for Diversity and Develop Empathy
The VR videos are designed not only to educate but also to foster empathy in students. Through the CAVE (Cave Automatic Virtual Environment), students are placed directly into the environments of those who face social and economic hardships. This immersive experience helps students better understand the diversity of human experiences and the importance of respect for individuals from different backgrounds.
By virtually stepping into the shoes of marginalized groups, students can develop a deeper sense of empathy and compassion, which are crucial attributes for social work professionals.
This collaboration represents a significant step forward in using emerging technology to enhance social work education. The 360° VR videos provide APSS students with a unique opportunity to not only learn about social issues but also to experience them in a way that is both impactful and transformative.
PolyU APSS CSD 