The VRCARE project continues to explore how Virtual Reality can enhance vocational education and training in the health and care sector. Recently, pilot activities took place in Spain, organised by Centro San Viator, bringing together students, teachers, and professionals from the sector, as part of the project “VRCARE: Modernizing Healthcare Pedagogy with Virtual Reality for Interaction, Ethics, Stimulation and Sensory” (Project Code: 2024-1-FI01-KA220-VET-000249151), co-funded by the European Union.
Participants had the opportunity to experience VR scenarios designed to reflect real-life situations in childcare and elderly care. For many, this was their first or one of their first contacts with Virtual Reality as a learning tool, making the experience both new and highly engaging.
Through the scenarios, participants stepped into realistic care situations where they had to observe, make decisions, and respond to different prompts. This interactive approach helped them stay involved and reflect more deeply on the complexity of professional contexts.
The feedback received was very positive. Participants highlighted the realism of the scenarios and the strong sense of presence created by VR. Many described the experience as feeling close to real life, which helped them take the situations seriously and think about how they would react in practice.
The pilot also showed strong learning potential. Participants reported that the VR scenarios helped them better understand the topics presented, especially because they could see how situations might unfold in real care settings. This practical dimension was especially valuable for preparing them for complex and emotionally demanding situations.
From a usability point of view, the experience was also positive. Even participants with little or no previous experience with VR were able to use the system without major difficulties. The tool was seen as intuitive, accessible, and suitable for future use in training programmes.
At the same time, the pilot helped identify useful areas for improvement. Some participants suggested clearer initial instructions, simpler interactions, and the possibility of adding more scenarios. These comments provide valuable input for the next stages of the project.
Activities like these highlight the strong potential of Virtual Reality to support experiential learning and bring education closer to real-life practice. The San Viator pilot showed that VR can offer a safe space to experiment, reflect, and prepare for situations that students and professionals may face in childcare and elderly care settings.
A big thank you to Centro San Viator and all participants for their valuable contribution and engagement. Their feedback plays an important role in shaping the future of VR-based learning in care education. 💙
