Virtual Reality (VR) to help treat mental illness and to improve life

Virtual Reality (VR) to help treat mental illness and to improve life

Advancements in virtual reality technology have not only led to improved experiences for people who enjoy video games but they are also treating very serious psychological and physical disabilities. Virtual reality versions of exposure therapy in increasingly being used as an approach in treating anxiety disorders such as phobias and post traumatic stress disorder. The idea is to gradually expose someone to the source of their anxiety—flying, for example—in a safe setting in a way that enables them to face that fear in the real world later. The simulations aren’t perfectly immersive—it’s obvious you’re in a computer-generated world when wearing a headset—but numerous studies have found virtual reality to be more effective at treating some phobias than traditional exposure methods like mental visualization or photographs. 

I have found one company in particular, to be very effective and comprehensive in their offerings:  VBI

http://www.virtuallybetter.com/

Adolescent Interview

Adolescent Interview

Growing Up Digital

Questions and answers

1    Question:  How old are you? 
 Answer:  15

      Question:  What does social media mean to you?
Answer:  A way to communicate and see what others are doing.

      Question:  Do you use social media?  Why or why not?
Answer:  Yes.  Everyone does.  To communicate with my friends, and to know what is going on.

      Question:  What do you use social media for?
Answer:  Post pictures, see what my friends are up to, and to communicate. 

      Question:  What sites do you use?
Answer:  I have a Facebook account- well, everybody has a Facebook account, but I don’t use that much.  I only use Facebook for instant messaging really, and sometimes I post pictures.  If I want to reach out to someone whose number I don’t have, I message them on Facebook.
Instagram and Snapchat are my top two.  EVERYONE uses these.

      Question:  How often do you use social media? 
Answer:  Everyday.

     Question:   How much time a day do you spend on social media?
Answer:  Hmmmm….I don’t really know.  A lot I guess.

     Question:  Does social media make you feel more social?  Connected?
Answer:  I guess.  It’s how we communicate.  So yeah.   

      Question:   Do you think social media can have any adverse effects?

      Answer:  Sometimes I spend too much time on my phone, following others, talking to friends, and then I don’t realize so much time has passed, and sometimes I get behind on other things I have to do.
Sometimes my friends obsess over other people’s posts and pictures- some girls are so mean, and it’s easy to say whatever you want and not care if you hurt anyone else.

      Question:   Is social media used by your school?   Teachers? 
Answer:  The school, yes.  Teachers….none that I have had.

      Question:    How is it used by your school?   Teachers?
Answer:  The school has a Facebook page. 

        The young lady that I interviewed is a neighborhood teen.
I wasn't surprised about her comments on Facebook.  I have been told many times by my college students how Facebook is "old" social media.  However, it is still used
by many.  Although my interviewee did not discuss this, my college students often tell me that Facebook is "too public" and sometimes "too much work," they feel that they have to constantly be checking to see if people tag them in posts, etc.

If I am being honest, I was rather disappointed in the interview.  I thought she would open up more and discuss more with me, but, ironically, she spent most of the time on her phone.....  

Digital Storytelling and Annotated Bibliography

" Digital storytelling provides an authentic personal learning experience- as such; student investment is greatly increased resulting in greatly improved motivation and end product. "     

David Jakes, Teacher, Learner, Technologist, Designer, and Storyteller. describes my initial interest in the pedagogical tool of digital storytelling.
As an educator, I am constantly attempting to provide a genuine and personalized learning experience for my students, where they are engaged and motivated in their learning experiences.  In today's technological world, I am finding the students are less engaged, and I believe that it is up to educators to meet students "where they are at," in their use of technology, and utilize new media and new literacies to enhance learning experiences, and optimize every student's individual learning style.

I have been drawn to digital storytelling for the past couple of months, and as I have been researching the topic, I am convinced that digital storytelling can be an effective educator and student tool.  Not only can it provide an engaging method of delivering course content for educators, but it can also allow students to express and articulate themselves, in a way they may not have otherwise.  And ultimately, I am drawn to the idea that it can enhance and create connections between students, and students and educators.

While there will be challenges and mountains to climb in the process, I have my tools ready to allow me to keep moving forward!


Annotated Bibliography

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YdIt9S-hQdqmqZSeiyVB6QuLZavPJ77iqM0HW7U3mgM/edit?usp=sharing