Students try out VR and AR projects. [Photo/en.xmu.edu.cn]
Students at Xiamen University (XMU) took their final exam beyond the classroom, turning the space beneath campus dormitories into a lively exhibition of virtual and augmented reality projects.
Professor Guo Shihui from the School of Informatics designed the event as the final assessment for the undergraduate course "Virtual Reality Technology and Applications". Instead of submitting traditional assignments, students set up interactive booths where teachers and classmates could freely try out their VR and AR creations.
Projects included donning headsets to virtually explore Gulangyu Island, using mobile AR to participate in simulated firefighting drills, and building digital maps to play games inspired by "Fall Guys", a popular multiplayer obstacle-course video game. Tables of VR headsets, AR glasses, and interactive phones and tablets quickly drew crowds, while colorful posters explained each group's concept.
Professor Guo said the idea stemmed from a belief that experience is central to virtual reality, adding, "The core of VR is interaction, and the soul of interaction lies in experience." What began as peer demonstrations in class later evolved into a public showcase, allowing students to test their work with a real audience.
The grading method was equally creative. Instead of paper ballots, visitors voted using White Rabbit candies. Each candy dropped into a box represented a vote of approval.
For many students, the experience reshaped how they viewed their work. "Before, we were just completing homework," one student said, "but now we're creating works to be experienced."
