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VIRTUAL REALITY AS PHILOSOPHY

PHI3VRP

2020

Credit points: 15

Subject outline

This subject discusses the philosophical significance of Virtual Reality (VR) and other related technologies (like Augmented Reality and Video Games). These developing technologies raise many interesting ethical, social, metaphysical, and existential questions. This subject will introduce you to these issues and give you the conceptual tools to evaluate and analyse them, not only now but into the future as these technologies continue to change and evolve. Some of the questions we may look at include: Is a virtual life always less valuable than a real life? Is VR an empathy machine that can help us to better understand the inner lives of other people? Are the objects and events in VR real or fictional? What ethical constraints are there on our actions in virtual environments? In this subject you will also be encouraged to explore some of the virtual worlds we will be discussing (a cheap pair of cardboard VR googles and a smartphone will suffice), and to let those experiences influence your thoughts and philosophical arguments.

School: Humanities and Social Sciences (Pre 2022)

Credit points: 15

Subject Co-ordinator: Yuri Cath

Available to Study Abroad/Exchange Students: Yes

Subject year level: Year Level 3 - UG

Available as Elective: No

Learning Activities: N/A

Capstone subject: No

Subject particulars

Subject rules

Prerequisites: N/A

Co-requisites: N/A

Incompatible subjects: N/A

Equivalent subjects: N/A

Quota Management Strategy: N/A

Quota-conditions or rules: N/A

Special conditions: N/A

Minimum credit point requirement: N/A

Assumed knowledge: N/A

Learning resources

Smartphone and cardboard VR googles

Resource Type: Web resource

Resource Requirement: Recommended

Author: N/A

Year: N/A

Edition/Volume: N/A

Publisher: N/A

ISBN: N/A

Chapter/article title: N/A

Chapter/issue: N/A

URL: N/A

Other description: N/A

Source location: N/A

Career Ready

Career-focused: No

Work-based learning: No

Self sourced or Uni sourced: N/A

Entire subject or partial subject: N/A

Total hours/days required: N/A

Location of WBL activity (region): N/A

WBL addtional requirements: N/A

Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes

Graduate Capabilities

COMMUNICATION - Communicating and Influencing
COMMUNICATION - Cultural Intelligence and Global Perspective
DISCIPLINE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
INQUIRY AND ANALYSIS - Creativity and Innovation
INQUIRY AND ANALYSIS - Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
INQUIRY AND ANALYSIS - Research and Evidence-Based Inquiry
PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL - Adaptability and Self-Management
PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL - Leadership and Teamwork

Intended Learning Outcomes

01. Resolve problems and complex debates by identifying the underlying issues, analysing their structure, and employing appropriate reasoning strategies and creative solutions (in the form of new objections, arguments, and ideas).
02. Articulate, analyse, and evaluate, standard form and text-based arguments, using appropriate methods of analysis and critical reasoning.
03. Examine how philosophical concepts and theories can interact in innovative ways with issues raised by Virtual Reality and other new and emerging technologies.
04. Analyse and write carefully constructed arguments in support of philosophical conclusions.

Albury-Wodonga, 2020, Semester 2, Online

Overview

Online enrolment: Yes

Maximum enrolment size: N/A

Subject Instance Co-ordinator: Yuri Cath

Class requirements

Unscheduled Online ClassWeek: 31 - 43
One 3.00 hours unscheduled online class per week on weekdays during the day from week 31 to week 43 and delivered via online.
Online lecture videos+blogging and online discussion board activities

Assessments

Assessment elementCommentsCategoryContributionHurdle%ILO*

Online Blog Exercises (2,500 word equivalent)These exercises will build the students knowledge and skills over the course of the semester culminating in their final Research Essay. There will be 10 exercises (in weeks 2-11) and the students grade will be calculated from their 6 best exercises.

N/AN/AN/ANo60SILO1, SILO2, SILO3, SILO4

Reflective Essay (2,000 words) OR short Video presentation (equivalent of 2,000 words)This task will require students to reflect on the knowledge and experiences (e.g. online virtual reality simulations) they have gained during the semester and in the regular blog exercises. Skill building for this assignment will be built into the online forum exercises. The essay/video option gives students choice in the format of their assessment, and the opportunity to focus on developing different skill

N/AN/AN/ANo40SILO1, SILO2, SILO3, SILO4

Bendigo, 2020, Semester 2, Online

Overview

Online enrolment: Yes

Maximum enrolment size: N/A

Subject Instance Co-ordinator: Yuri Cath

Class requirements

Unscheduled Online ClassWeek: 31 - 43
One 3.00 hours unscheduled online class per week on weekdays during the day from week 31 to week 43 and delivered via online.
Online lecture videos+blogging and online discussion board activities

Assessments

Assessment elementCommentsCategoryContributionHurdle%ILO*

Online Blog Exercises (2,500 word equivalent)These exercises will build the students knowledge and skills over the course of the semester culminating in their final Research Essay. There will be 10 exercises (in weeks 2-11) and the students grade will be calculated from their 6 best exercises.

N/AN/AN/ANo60SILO1, SILO2, SILO3, SILO4

Reflective Essay (2,000 words) OR short Video presentation (equivalent of 2,000 words)This task will require students to reflect on the knowledge and experiences (e.g. online virtual reality simulations) they have gained during the semester and in the regular blog exercises. Skill building for this assignment will be built into the online forum exercises. The essay/video option gives students choice in the format of their assessment, and the opportunity to focus on developing different skill

N/AN/AN/ANo40SILO1, SILO2, SILO3, SILO4

Melbourne (Bundoora), 2020, Semester 2, Online

Overview

Online enrolment: Yes

Maximum enrolment size: N/A

Subject Instance Co-ordinator: Yuri Cath

Class requirements

Unscheduled Online ClassWeek: 31 - 43
One 3.00 hours unscheduled online class per week on weekdays during the day from week 31 to week 43 and delivered via online.
Online lecture videos+blogging and online discussion board activities

Assessments

Assessment elementCommentsCategoryContributionHurdle%ILO*

Online Blog Exercises (2,500 word equivalent)These exercises will build the students knowledge and skills over the course of the semester culminating in their final Research Essay. There will be 10 exercises (in weeks 2-11) and the students grade will be calculated from their 6 best exercises.

N/AN/AN/ANo60SILO1, SILO2, SILO3, SILO4

Reflective Essay (2,000 words) OR short Video presentation (equivalent of 2,000 words)This task will require students to reflect on the knowledge and experiences (e.g. online virtual reality simulations) they have gained during the semester and in the regular blog exercises. Skill building for this assignment will be built into the online forum exercises. The essay/video option gives students choice in the format of their assessment, and the opportunity to focus on developing different skill

N/AN/AN/ANo40SILO1, SILO2, SILO3, SILO4

Mildura, 2020, Semester 2, Online

Overview

Online enrolment: Yes

Maximum enrolment size: N/A

Subject Instance Co-ordinator: Yuri Cath

Class requirements

Unscheduled Online ClassWeek: 31 - 43
One 3.00 hours unscheduled online class per week on weekdays during the day from week 31 to week 43 and delivered via online.
Online lecture videos+blogging and online discussion board activities

Assessments

Assessment elementCommentsCategoryContributionHurdle%ILO*

Online Blog Exercises (2,500 word equivalent)These exercises will build the students knowledge and skills over the course of the semester culminating in their final Research Essay. There will be 10 exercises (in weeks 2-11) and the students grade will be calculated from their 6 best exercises.

N/AN/AN/ANo60SILO1, SILO2, SILO3, SILO4

Reflective Essay (2,000 words) OR short Video presentation (equivalent of 2,000 words)This task will require students to reflect on the knowledge and experiences (e.g. online virtual reality simulations) they have gained during the semester and in the regular blog exercises. Skill building for this assignment will be built into the online forum exercises. The essay/video option gives students choice in the format of their assessment, and the opportunity to focus on developing different skill

N/AN/AN/ANo40SILO1, SILO2, SILO3, SILO4

On-Line, 2020, Semester 2, Online

Overview

Online enrolment: Yes

Maximum enrolment size: N/A

Subject Instance Co-ordinator: Yuri Cath

Class requirements

Unscheduled Online ClassWeek: 31 - 43
One 3.00 hours unscheduled online class per week on weekdays during the day from week 31 to week 43 and delivered via online.
Online lecture videos+blogging and online discussion board activities

Assessments

Assessment elementCommentsCategoryContributionHurdle%ILO*

Online Blog Exercises (2,500 word equivalent)These exercises will build the students knowledge and skills over the course of the semester culminating in their final Research Essay. There will be 10 exercises (in weeks 2-11) and the students grade will be calculated from their 6 best exercises.

N/AN/AN/ANo60SILO1, SILO2, SILO3, SILO4

Reflective Essay (2,000 words) OR short Video presentation (equivalent of 2,000 words)This task will require students to reflect on the knowledge and experiences (e.g. online virtual reality simulations) they have gained during the semester and in the regular blog exercises. Skill building for this assignment will be built into the online forum exercises. The essay/video option gives students choice in the format of their assessment, and the opportunity to focus on developing different skill

N/AN/AN/ANo40SILO1, SILO2, SILO3, SILO4

Shepparton, 2020, Semester 2, Online

Overview

Online enrolment: Yes

Maximum enrolment size: N/A

Subject Instance Co-ordinator: Yuri Cath

Class requirements

Unscheduled Online ClassWeek: 31 - 43
One 3.00 hours unscheduled online class per week on weekdays during the day from week 31 to week 43 and delivered via online.
Online lecture videos+blogging and online discussion board activities

Assessments

Assessment elementCommentsCategoryContributionHurdle%ILO*

Online Blog Exercises (2,500 word equivalent)These exercises will build the students knowledge and skills over the course of the semester culminating in their final Research Essay. There will be 10 exercises (in weeks 2-11) and the students grade will be calculated from their 6 best exercises.

N/AN/AN/ANo60SILO1, SILO2, SILO3, SILO4

Reflective Essay (2,000 words) OR short Video presentation (equivalent of 2,000 words)This task will require students to reflect on the knowledge and experiences (e.g. online virtual reality simulations) they have gained during the semester and in the regular blog exercises. Skill building for this assignment will be built into the online forum exercises. The essay/video option gives students choice in the format of their assessment, and the opportunity to focus on developing different skill

N/AN/AN/ANo40SILO1, SILO2, SILO3, SILO4