K-State selected for immersive education project to help students learn soft skills

Thanks to a cooperative research project that provides state-of-the-art technology equipment, Kansas State University students will use virtual reality to advance their communication and presentation skills to prepare for careers after graduation.

K-State's College of Health and Human Sciences and Salina campus have been selected for the Soft Skills Education Research Project for Business and Healthcare Schools from Bodyswaps and Meta.

This immersive learning opportunity will feature the use of Meta's Quest 2 headsets, all-in-one virtual reality headsets that allow users to immerse themselves in new virtual worlds, according to Meta.

The in-kind grant of VR equipment and related software is through the company Bodyswaps, an award-winning VR platform that brings realistic simulations and artificial intelligence-enabled feedback to soft skills training. Students can practice and fail safely without repercussions while building the communication, teamwork and leadership skills needed to be successful in their careers.

Michael Oetken, assistant professor and graduate faculty in the department of integrated studies, is leading the project for K-State Salina and says that it will result in new, innovative ways of learning for students by putting them in high-stakes situations virtually. The project allows K-State Salina to focus on technology modules through Bodyswaps.

"K-State Salina is putting a greater emphasis on implementing technology into the curriculum," Oetken said. "The Soft Skills Education Research Project will let students practice, train and learn using VR. This will be a safe place where they can practice things like proposing an idea to a board of directors."

Oetken said the software can record the students, which allows them to go back and watch their presentation from the perspective of the board members and adjust.

"This will prepare our students to go into their industries ready to make innovative solutions with confidence," Oetken said.

K-State's College of Health and Human Sciences will focus on health care modules through the Soft Skills Education Research Project for Business and Healthcare Schools.

"The Soft Skills Education Research Project has provided an amazing opportunity for learners in the communication sciences and disorders program to explore soft skills training in a psychologically safer environment than traditional in-person role plays," said David Rehfeld, assistant professor in the communication sciences and disorders program. "Using this technology, learners are able to practice skills like active listening and helping patients with communication disorders feel heard during tough conversations."

Rehfeld said this opportunity has also provided learners with more hands-on opportunities to connect research to the classroom and clinical practice, which helps them be more confident in their abilities before they engage with the local community in the K-State Speech and Hearing Clinic or off-campus placements.

Students will be going through the program to collect data for Meta this semester. K-State Salina then plans to implement the soft skills education into the curriculum in future years.