Diagnostic radiography education amidst the COVID-19 pandemic: Current and future use of virtual reality (VR)

The use of virtual reality (VR) amidst the COVID-19 pandemic has been paramount. Typically, radiography students are exposed to a range of learning methods; notably, lectures, tutorials, technical positioning sessions, coupled with the attendance of practice placements. Yet, our sudden need for social distancing, isolation, and for some, strict lockdown measures, required change within our academic delivery. The sudden need for virtual change in higher education has been felt worldwide and although the utility of VR in radiography has been used prior to COVID-19, it has never been used as a supplementary tool for clinical placement. In response, this commentary provides us with an opportunity to explore the appropriateness of VR in future years and what it may mean of prospective students. This commentary not only highlights our reliance on VR but identifies how it kept abreast with quality standards. This enables critical reflection on whether a ‘new educational normal’ or ‘new educational abnormal’ can take place in the higher education setting, in radiography, and perhaps healthcare education in general following the COVID-19 pandemic.