November 04, 2021
Stuckeman School professor uses virtual reality to expand studio environment
![A rendering of a studio desk space with a white concept board overlay and two Zoom screens of the instructor.](https://arts.psu.edu/assets/uploads/news/_860xAUTO_fit_center-center_80_none/larch_2111_VRdeskspace.png)
Our in-person studio is a space that we spent a great deal of time in and the environment there is very important to how we work. There is definitely a mixture of work and fun, but I think this is necessary to our creativity and workflow." — Bailee Bair“The features of the online studio went beyond just workspaces and contained some fun extra details. This was really appreciated by my classmates and I, and I think that these extra details really helped the virtual studio to feel as similar to our in-person studio as possible," she continued. The studio desks included a whiteboard software that allowed students to upload files and use drawing tools on their designs. Another important component was a Zoom link to every instructor’s meeting room, allowing students to easily access faculty as needed. Due to the nature of the course, which included detailed instructor feedback for complex construction designs, the whiteboard and Zoom features of the desk space was vital for students to learn from their peers. “We integrated some features that allowed us to have a more traditional, albeit digital, version of studio, pin up boards and desk spaces that students could use so they could see each other’s work, which was a big complaint they had about using Zoom and Canvas. They just couldn’t learn from each other [in those platforms],” said Flohr. The lecture hall feature of the studio consisted of links to synchronous Zoom lectures, past lectures, software tutorials and other course materials. This information was found in one space, making it easier for students to access all resources needed for the course. Pin-up spaces were used for group critiques by using concept boards to facilitate discussions, instructor and peer feedback, comments and presentations. The lounge feature included links to streaming service watch parties, and music and food delivery services. “Each of us had our own concept board space but it was accessible to everyone, much like our desks at our in-person studio. This feature provided us with a space to store all of our work and a way to stay organized, but also a place where we could ask questions, make suggestions and collaborate virtually,” said Bair. “Without this feature, I think my online learning experience would have been a lot less successful.” Flohr conducted a research project to measure the effectiveness of the studio on student learning and peer engagement. The survey results revealed that the virtual reality studio created a better peer learning environment than Zoom and also helped students understand concepts better. “The students really credited the way in which the virtual studio was set up so that it allowed them to constantly go back and review our interactions with their work throughout the semester,” Flohr said. Flohr was recognized for his work developing the studio at the 2021 annual international Digital Landscape Architecture conference in May. The theme, which was “Hybrid Landscapes,” focused on how landscape architecture instruction adapted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Flohr also gave a presentation about the virtual studio at the conference and credits his recognition to effective collaboration with faculty.
It just shows what you can do when faculty members come together and work so well like we do here, particularly when there is an immediate, pressing need." — Travis Flohr“It is amazing what we can do when we pull our resources together," he concluded. For more news from the Stuckeman School, follow us on Twitter @StuckemanNews.
![A rendering of a studio desk space with a white concept board overlay and two Zoom screens of the instructor.](https://arts.psu.edu/assets/uploads/news/_680xAUTO_fit_center-center_80_none/larch_2111_VRdeskspace.png)
Schools and Departments:
Department of Landscape Architecture, Stuckeman School
Unit Research:
A&A Sustainability, Ecology plus Design
Architecture Clusters:
Sustainability (SUS)