This course provides an introduction to immersive virtual reality. Students will be taken through the process of creating an interactive virtual environment intended for stereoscopic output and, in the second half of the course, will develop their own immersive and interactive project. The course introduces students to experience (UX) design, interaction design and interface design for immersive environments. The conceptual and experiential possibilities of immersive VR are explored and developed in the context of a creative work or a collaborative creative work. Students will develop a research and development portfolio as a pre-production component to the creation of the creative work. This portfolio is a comprehensive planning document that clarifies the theoretical, conceptual and technical scope of the creative work. Typical areas of investigation at this level include, but are not restricted to, interface design, interaction design, experience design and simple programming. Workplace health and safety is approached professionally at this level.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

Upon successful completion of this course, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of techniques, processes, technologies and equipment used in immersive virtual reality;
2. Exploit the characteristics of materials and processes in an individual and conceptually developed way;
3. Show critical awareness of historical and theoretical contexts relevant to immersive virtual reality;
4. Apply critical, analytical and self-reflective practice; and
5. Identify and develop personal topics for individual research in immersive virtual reality.

Research-Led Teaching

Throughout the course students learn by doing and explore by making. This approach gives them the requisite technical and conceptual skill-sets to pursue distinctive, research-led outcomes. 

Required Resources

Commonwealth supported students and domestic full-fee paying students generally must be able to complete the requirements of their program of study without the imposition of fees that are additional to the student contribution amount or tuition fees.

Provided that its payment is in accordance with the Act, a fee is of a kind that is into any one or more of the following categories:

(a) It is a charge for a good or service that is not essential to the course of study.

(b) It is a charge for an alternative form, or alternative forms, of access to a good or service that is an essential component of the course of study but is otherwise made readily available at no additional fee by the higher education provider.

(c) It is a charge for an essential good or service that the student has the choice of acquiring from a supplier other than the higher education provider and is for:

(i) equipment or items which become the physical property of the student and are not consumed during the course of study; or

(ii) food, transport and accommodation costs associated with the provision of field trips that form part of the course of study.

(d) It is a fine or a penalty provided it is imposed principally as a disincentive and not in order to raise revenue or cover administrative costs.

Recommended Resources

It is recommended to students that they own/purchase an appropriate digital data storage device (ie hard drive and/or USB flash drive).

Recommended readings:

• The VR Book: Human Centred Design for VR by Jason Jerald • Publisher: Morgan & Claypool Publishers (October 16, 2015) • ISBN-10: 1970001127 • ISBN-13: 978-1970001129
• Building Virtual Reality with Unity and Steam VR by Jeff W. Murray • Publisher: A K Peters/CRC Press; 1 edition (June 8, 2017) • ISBN-10: 1138033510 • ISBN-13: 978-1138033511 Learning Virtual Reality: Developing Immersive Experiences and Applications for Desktop, Web, and Mobile by Tony Parisi • Publisher: O'Reilly Media; 1 edition (November 20, 2015) • ISBN-10: 1491922834 • ISBN-13: 978-1491922835
• Unity Virtual Reality Projects by Jonathan Linowes • Publisher: Packt Publishing - ebooks Account (September 2015) • ISBN-10: 178398855X • ISBN-13: 978-1783988556
• Holistic Game Development with Unity: An All-in-One Guide to Implementing Game Mechanics, Art, Design and Programming by Penny de Byl • Publisher: A K Peters/CRC Press; 1 edition (November 17, 2011) • ISBN-10: 0240819330 • ISBN-13: 978-0240819334
• http://www.uxofvr.com/
• https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2017/02/getting-started-with-vr-interface-design/
• https://www.google.com/design/spec-vr/designing-for-google-cardboard/a-newdimension.html
• http://www.dtelepathy.com/blog/philosophy/ux-guide-designing-virtual-reality-experiences

Staff Feedback

Assessment includes periodic critique and review sessions that provide ongoing feedback on work in progress.

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Other Information

Referencing requirements:

Any part of any work submitted for assessment that is not entirely original and the sole effort of the student must be properly acknowledged using the appropriate referencing conventions and protocols. Please refer to the referencing guidelines, and further information on how and why to cite sources, at http://soa.anu.edu.au/study-protocols/referencing-guidelines.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Go through course outline Lecture – VR and the VR pipeline Lab - experience some VR Practical – Introduction to Unity Lab - VR Testing Production: Assessment Tasks 1, 2i and 2ii	Assessment Tasks 1, 2i, 2ii and 2iii set
2	Lecture - 3D pipeline (model, texture, animate) Practical - Maya, polygon modelling, texturing & animating for export to Unity Practical - Import model into Unity and configure Lab - VR Testing Production: Assessment Tasks 1, 2i and 2ii
3	Lecture – Triggers and Sound Practical – Trigger sound exercise Lab – VR Testing Production: Assessment Tasks 1, 2i and 2ii
4	Lecture – Animation Controller + Intro to C# Practical – Animation Controller exercise Lab – VR Testing Production: Assessment Tasks 1, 2i and 2ii
5	Lecture – Interaction & Interfaces: Design and UX considerations Practical – Build an interface and add health and damage systems to player Lecture – Health Systems Practical – Damage and healing exercise Lab – VR Testing Production: Assessment Tasks 1, 2i and 2ii
6	REVIEW - group presentation and testing of assessment tasks	Assessment Tasks 1 and 2i due
7	VR Project Pitch Lecture – Moving in VR Practical – Teleport Lab – VR Testing Production: Assessment Tasks 1 and 2iii	Assessment 2ii due
8	Lecture – Lighting Lab – VR Testing Production: Assessment Tasks 1 and 2iii
9	Lecture: Picking up and throwing Lab – VR Testing Production: Assessment Tasks 1 and 2iii
10	Guest Lecture Lab – VR Testing Production: Assessment Tasks 1 and 2iii
11	Guest Lecture Lab – VR Testing Production: Assessment Tasks 1 and 2iii
12	Lab – VR Testing Production: Assessment Tasks 1 and 2iii	NB: Assessment Tasks 1 and 2iii due during examination period

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Research and development portfolio	20 %	03/04/2019	24/04/2019	2-5
VR Works	70 %	06/06/2019	04/07/2019	1-5
Participation	10 %	06/06/2019	04/07/2019	1-5

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information 
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website. Students may choose not to submit assessment items through Turnitin. In this instance you will be required to submit, alongside the assessment item itself, hard copies of all references included in the assessment item.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

Students must participate actively in the course through reading of assigned texts and participation in class discussion. 

Examination(s)

VIVA examinations will be conducted in week 14 or 15 (exact dates tbc), in various computer laboratories and studio rooms in the Peter Karmel building.

The VIVA is NOT A REVIEW. Students will be allocated ten minutes in which to present their assessable work to a panel of lecturers, with none others present. The purpose of the VIVA is to view student work for assessment, and not to provide feedback. It is the responsibility of each student to ensure that they have the required assessment material available for presentation to the panel at the nominated time. If a student is unable to present for the VIVA at the nominated time then it is that student’s responsibility to arrange a swap with another student beforehand and advise the conveners of the new arrangement. 

Keep in mind that larger files may not play or load smoothly from some data storage devices and will need to be first loaded onto the local drive of the presentation computer before they can be properly viewed. Students may opt to pre-load content onto a computer in the nominated VIVA space before the day of the VIVA rather than bring the content on a thumb drive, portable hard drive or data disc. 

Visual diary blogs will be assessed at the VIVA. Ensure that these are available and adequately prepared for presentation.

Students who miss a VIVA must provide appropriate documentation to explain their absence or risk being awarded a fail grade for the entire studio component of their program.

Assessment Task 1

Research and development portfolio

The aim of this assessment task is to develop the student’s ability to effectively plan, communicate, reflect and present the conceptual thinking and developmental processes pertaining to their engagement with the studio practice and theory course content throughout the semester. These skills will be developed through a number of in-class and studio-based exercises and demonstrated through the production of a visual diary comprising of digital content presented in an online blog. 

Word limit (where applicable): 1000 words

Value: 20%

Presentation requirements:

• At semester’s end students are required to submit a visual diary in the form of a personal blog. The preferred blogging engine for this exercise is Tumblr, for which you will need to create an account (http://www.tumblr.com/). Alternative blog engines (i.e. wordpress) may be used.
• Your URL must conform to the following convention: FirstnameSurname.tumblr.com. If your username is taken, then use an underscore to separate your first name and surname. If this username is also taken, then use a full stop to separate your first name and last name. 
• All content should be clearly labelled and annotated where applicable. Students are required to gather, collect, assemble, document and present a range of material that reflects their investigation, exploration and planning of concepts and processes in this course. The final submission should provide an extensive and coherent documentation of all aspects of creative and technical decision making throughout the semester in all areas of the course.

Estimated return date: At VIVA Examination, Week 12

Rubric

CRITERIA	HD	D	CR	P	F
Research	The project has been expertly and thoughtfully researched. The research includes methodology, material, concept & process; bibliography is focused and relevant	The project and its scope have been capably and thoughtfully researched: including methodology, material, concept & process; bibliography is focused and/or relevant	Most aspects of the project have been competently planned and managed: the research includes methodology, material, concept & process; bibliography is focused or mostly relevant	The project has been adequately researched: The research includes methods, contextual info & bibliography	Research insufficient to provide productive studio results
Planning	The project has been expertly and thoughtfully planned and managed and its scope thoroughly considered: The plan includes concise and clearly defined aims and methodology; material, concept & process align and contextual info is evaluated; bibliography is focused and relevant	The project and its scope have been capably and thoughtfully planned and managed: the plan includes well defined aims and methodology; or material, concept & process align and contextual info is evaluated; or bibliography is focused and/or relevant	Most aspects of the project and its scope have been competently planned and managed: the plan includes defined aims and methodology; or material, concept & process alignment is attempted ; or contextual info is evaluated; or bibliography is focused or mostly relevant	The project and its scope have been adequately planned and managed: The plan includes aims, methods, contextual info & bibliography	Planning insufficient to provide productive studio results
Development	Methodology is tested analysed and evaluated; materials concepts and processes expertly and thoughtfully tested	Methodology is tested analysed or evaluated; materials concepts and processes capably and thoughtfully tested	Competent experimental and analytical methodology; materials concepts and processes tested as directed	Experimental and analytical methodology adequate; materials concepts and processes tested as directed	Insufficient experiment and analysis

Assessment Task 2

VR Works

Assessment Task 2i: Collaborative VR work

Details of task: Students will be put in small groups to collaboratively create a user controlled fish or bird in a tropical island world. The work should go beyond a technical skills demonstration and show conceptual depth. Each work is expected to be suitable for public display. 

Value: 20%

Presentation requirements: A unity project with associated files. The project should be named studentname_Assignment2i.unity and uploaded to /pmashare/DROPBOX/2019/Sem1/ARTV6059/Task2i/

Estimated return date: REVIEW

Assessment Task 2ii: Design and Planning for Assignment 2iii

Details of task: This task consists of creating a 'production bible' that contains all the design and planning documentation required to create Assignment 2iii. The production bible should begin with the purpose of the VR work (game, serious game, immersive artwork, visualisation, etc) and should detail the design specifications that combine to create the UX - the interface design, the interaction design and the content design (such as synopsis, cast of characters, character design, character interaction, point and damage systems, environment design, lighting, sound and music, etc)

Value: 10%

Presentation requirements: Word document, pdf or images. The files should copied to a folder named studentname_Assignment2ii and then uploaded to /pmashare/DROPBOX/2019/Sem1/ARTV6059/Task2ii/

Estimated return date: Week 7 

Assessment Task 2iii: Major VR Work

Details of task: This project consists of the creation of an immersive and interactive virtual environment. It can be in individual work or, with the permission of the lecturer, a collaborative work. It should demonstrate the techniques and principles explored during the term. The work should go beyond a technical skills demonstration and show conceptual depth. Each work is expected to be suitable for public display and interaction.

The work can be a game or serious game, an educational resource or tool, a recreation of place, an artwork or a creator defined work. 

Value: 40%

Presentation requirements: A unity project with associated files. The project should be named studentname_Assignment2iii.unity and uploaded to /pmashare/DROPBOX/2019/Sem1/ARTV6059/Task2iii/

Estimated return date: VIVA

Rubric

CRITERIA	HD	D	CR	P	F
Demonstrate creative control and understanding of techniques, technologies and equipment	Innovative combination or use of technique, technologies and equipment.	Thorough combination or uses of technique, technologies and equipment.	Competent combination or uses of technique, technologies and equipment.	Adequate combination of technique, technologies and equipment.	Incomplete or flawed combination of technique, technologies and equipment
Demonstrate the creative analysis and understanding of the materials and processes	Innovative combination of material and processes	Thorough combination of material and processes	Competent combination of material and processes	Adequate combination of material and processes	Incomplete or flawed combination of material and processes
Exploit the characteristics of materials and processes in an individual and conceptually developed way	Innovative exploitation of material and processes	Thorough combination exploitation of material and processes	Competent combination exploitation of material and processes	Adequate combination exploitation of material and processes	Incomplete or flawed exploitation of material and processes
Demonstrate the possession of a critical, analytical and self-reflective practice	Insightful and independent thinking is evident in work and articulated in discussion	Clear relationships between concept and process is demonstrated in work and articulated in discussion	Work reveals relationships between concept and process and links can be explained to a degree	Can explain relationships between concept and process but these are not evident in work	Does not recognize relationship between concept and process
Apply concepts and techniques to the development of resolved works of art	Exceptionally skilful execution and development of related ideas, material, process, technique.	Skilful execution and development of related ideas, material, process, technique.	Competent execution and development of related ideas, material, process, technique.	Execution and development of related ideas, material, process, technique.	Execution incomplete or flawed

Assessment Task 3

Participation

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of our culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically. This means that all members of the community commit to honest and responsible scholarly practice and to upholding these values with respect and fairness. The Australian National University commits to embedding the values of academic integrity in our teaching and learning. We ensure that all members of our community understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with. The University has policies and procedures in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Visit the following Academic honesty & plagiarism website for more information about academic integrity and what the ANU considers academic misconduct. The ANU offers a number of services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. The Academic Skills and Learning Centre offers a number of workshops and seminars that you may find useful for your studies.

Online Submission

In cases where assessment material is digitally produced, the default form of submission should be online, using Wattle where appropriate. Assignments are submitted using the course Wattle site. Submitted assignments must include the cover sheet provided on Wattle.

In the case of larger format files of the type typically produced in digital media production, however, submission of assessment material should be to the appropriate folder or folders in the Department of Photography and Media Arts server drop-box (pmashare01).

Please keep a copy of all submitted assessment items for your records.

Hardcopy Submission

Any physical assessment submissions can be submitted directly to the lecturer, who will collect this material for later return to the student once assessed. All physical assessment submissions must include a cover sheet that includes the student’s name, the date, the course title, the course code and the name of the assessment item. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records. Assignments must include the cover sheet available here. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Returning Assignments

Any physical work will be returned to the student directly by the lecturer upon completion of assessment. In those cases where this is not possible, work can be collected directly from the lecturer throughout the duration of the semester, up until the end of the examination period.  

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. The Course Convener may grant extensions for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Resubmission of Assignments

Students may, in consultation with the lecturer, resubmit any previously submitted assessment item throughout the duration of the semester, up until – but not beyond – the VIVA examination date, and without the need for accompanying supporting documentation. Students wishing to submit any assessment item after the VIVA examination date will be required to seek the approval of the Head of Department and also provide appropriate supporting documentation, such as a medical certificate from a health professional.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students