The project meeting of the DR FLEMP project took place last week (on October 20-21) at the Language Centre – Cyprus University of Technology in Limassol (Language Centre – Cyprus University of Technology ). The meeting served as further step for gaining a shape of the upcoming VR application development aimed to enhance foreign language education for medical professionals using virtual reality tools.

All partners presented the first prototypes that resulted from the Design Thinking workshops held during the summer months. CUT Nursing School students tested these first prototype models of the future simulation and gave their feedback on usability and user experience. 

Further intensive discussions on the planned learning scenarios that are to become the produces lessons of the project required a lot of time and attention from all the parties involved: researchers, language teachers and teaching instructors and, of course, the developers. By the next meeting the VR simulation protypes should already be developed and go into piloting phase.

As part of the DR FLEMP project’s mission to support digital transformation in Foreign Language Education (FLE) within the EU, several design thinking workshops were conducted by project partners. These workshops aimed to develop an effective and engaging MR application for language learning in medical contexts.

Lithuania Workshop (June 2022) The workshop held in UTENOS KOLEGIJA focused on creating a storyboard and prototype for an MR application. Participants included language instructors, medical instructors, and professionals. Using the framework developed by Design Thinking Explorations, the workshop followed an established methodology that adopted the principles of design thinking adapted from Google Design Sprint. Throughout the workshop, participants collaborated to design an immersive VR application for medical language learning.

Cyprus Workshop (September 2022) The design thinking workshop in Cyprus University of Technology gathered language instructors, facilitators, and a medical instructor. The participants worked collaboratively to design a storyboard and prototype for an MR application tailored to medical language learning. Following the Design Thinking Explorations framework, the workshop incorporated oral activities conducted in Greek and written activities in English. This multilingual approach enhanced the inclusivity and engagement of the participants.

These design thinking workshops have played a crucial role in the development of the DR FLEMP project. By harnessing the principles of design thinking and incorporating the expertise of language instructors, medical professionals, and researchers, the workshops have paved the way for the creation of an innovative MR application. The prototypes developed during these workshops will undergo user testing and evaluation, ensuring that the final product meets the needs and expectations of language learners in the medical field.