The Institute for Global Social Responsibility (SNUSR) has held service learning trips to Laos since 2015. Given the ongoing pandemic, the SNUSR has devised an online program that will allow students to continue their volunteer work.

A continuation of a series of previous trips, the program’s goal has been to support the education of residents and students from a village in Nabong. The program has been a collaborative effort between SNU students and students from the National University of Laos.

The “Sharing Education” activity was an exploration of topics pertinent to local residents. Topics covered included “The Fourth Industrial Revolution and Developments in Agricultural Technology,” “Making Rice Bran Soap,” and “Symptoms and Treatment of Fever-Inducing Diseases.” Students taught the material through the use of videos and leaflets.

The “Sharing VR” activity gave students hands-on experience directing and producing their own videos. The final five videos offered a series of interactive and comprehensive solutions for online learning.

The National University of Laos has been operating a “VR Experience Zone'' for the past two years. University faculty and students have been using the space to teach themselves VR-related skills, and try their hands at video production. Moreover, the five videos produced for the program were premiered at the university. Attendees included university faculty, students, and village residents. The screening of the videos, along with a follow-up quiz, were captured and broadcast on Lao National Television.

Screening of the Students’ VR Videos, being broadcasted on Lao National Television

All in all, the program has served to demonstrate the capabilities of online service learning work. In particular, VR is a platform worth exploring for its versatility and limitless potential. Moving forward, online volunteer work may become a mainstay for many SNUSR programs. Combining both online and offline volunteer work will open up more possibilities for SNUSR.

To learn more about SNUSR’s online activities, please visit the organization’s home page (https://snusr.snu.ac.kr/activities/snucorps/digital-local), or call the Global Development Cooperation Center (880-2994).

Written by Min Seo Ki, SNU English Editor, mskey717@gmail.com
Reviewed by Professor Travis Smith, Department of Asian Languages and Civilizations, tlsmith@snu.ac.kr