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Genesis Lab

Learn more about our makerspace and the resources available to students, faculty, and staff at Pepperdine University.

Resources for teaching

 

view looks through window into the genesis lab onto an instructional session. 3D printer visible in foreground.

The Genesis Lab provides faculty with the support necessary to deploy emerging technology in the physical and virtual classroom.  This support is customized to the needs of the faculty member.  Genesis Lab staff can act as technical support inside the classroom and/or over the course of an assignment.  If you would like to incorporate any of these resources into your syllabus, please contact Lauren Haberstock for a consultation.

Additionally, Lauren Haberstock is available for bespoke instructional sessions on the impact of emerging technology on any particular discipline or course.

3D data and technologies provide direct access to primary source material — the things themselves — rather than the textual observations or interpretations that make up traditional scholarly material, like books and journal articles. Academic fields of study that engage with artifacts, specimens, and anatomical structures can benefit from 3D content. 3D models also offer new ways to engage with materials—helping students observe features that are difficult to understand in 2D.  Several libraries of 3D models, such as Sketchfab, NIH3D Print Exchange, and Smithsonian 3D, contain models appropriate for higher ed, are available for online for free, and enable students to manipulate a 3D model through their browser.

Exploring premade 3D models can be illuminating for students, but creating their own builds a deep understanding of the details of the model and facilitates creative problem solving.  For example, students can understand the anatomy of a cell or the intricacies of ancient architecture by building their own virtual version.  An array of 3D modelling software is available for free online, and the Genesis Lab staff are available to teach the basics of these programs and answer any technical questions over the course of an assignment. 

Check out more 3D modeling resources here.

meta quest 2 headset in the center with controllers on either side of headset

Our virtual reality headsets are available for use within the Genesis Lab to support your teaching and research outcomes. We currently offer access to the following headset options:

  • HTC Vive (wired, requires PC)
  • Oculus Rift (wired, requires PC)
  • Oculus Quest (wireless)
  • Oculus Quest 2 (wireless)

google expeditions app on a phone

Many VR resources are also free and accessible on a computer.  VR content libraries such as Inception and Within provide access to 360 films through a smartphone or laptop.  These virtual experiences can take students on a tour of a different city or ecosystem, or take them as far as Mars or as close as the inside of the human body. 

Check out more VR tools here.

The Genesis Lab supports 3D printing of an academic and exploratory nature.  This includes 3D printing teaching tools for faculty or 3D printing projects created by students.

The Genesis Lab provides support for creating 360 images and short videos of local destinations. The Lab has several 360 cameras available to faculty to check out for further away destination and can provide expertise in editing 360 video. 360 videos can be made available to students through Google Drive or Youtube. 

The Genesis Lab has always fostered an environment of creative problem solving.  Our staff hopes to bring that attitude to the challenges of virtual learning. If there are any other projects or assignments that we may be able to partner on, please do not hesitate to reach out.  We are always happy to brainstorm and try new solutions.