UNSW students practise high-stakes conversations with immersive AI

UNSW Sydney is expanding the use of its award-winning AI learning tool, with workshops helping academics build scenarios tied to course skills.

UNSW is leading efforts to integrate AI into university education, scaling up the use of cutting-edge educational tools and dynamic learning experiences through the AI Conversation Sim (ICON).

The tool is currently used in dozens of courses, from enabling journalism students to practise interviews to helping medical students build confidence in patient communication. It allows educators to craft specialised simulated scenarios where students learn specific skills in their subject areas.

Through a virtual reality headset or web browser, students can engage with lifelike AI agents in immersive 3D environments, responding to complex situations in real time. 

UNSW Pro Vice-Chancellor Education, Professor Christine Mathies, said ICON enhanced student learning by using AI in meaningful ways to build enduring human skills.

“ICON is a fantastic tool that uses AI in a purposeful and controlled environment, which is highly beneficial for students’ learning,” Prof. Mathies said.

“The Conversation Sim gives students a safe, structured space to practise complex interactions and refine their judgement and communication skills.”

Embracing new learning opportunities

The AI Conversation Sim was first launched in 2024 and has since been developed for use across several UNSW faculties, including Medicine & Health, Law & Justice, Arts, Design & Architecture and the Business School.

UNSW’s PVCE Media and Immersive team hosted practical workshops this week to help academics design and deploy new ICON scenarios, expanding its use across disciplines.

ICON’s developers work alongside academic staff to develop the technology, ensuring it’s both evidence-based and delivers a seamless user experience.

UNSW Senior Lecturer in Information Systems and Technology Management, Dr Alba Olivares Nadal, said ICON had increased student participation in her classes.

“The AI Conversation Sim has been an amazing addition to my course, providing students with an immersive and interactive experience that greatly enhances their understanding of AI and improves their critical thinking and debate skills,” Dr Nadal said.

“It's a look into the future of education, where technology and innovation create great learning opportunities.”

Designing education for an AI-enabled workforce

UNSW Immersive Technology Specialist Tim Dodds said the technology was designed to be adaptable and driven by educators’ needs.

“We’ve built ICON to be fast, flexible and accessible to any UNSW staff member,” Mr Dodds said.

“Academics can create, test and refine their own scenarios in one platform, whether that’s delivered via web or virtual reality. It means the technology adapts to the curriculum, not the other way around.

“We work directly with teachers to develop new features and ensure the experience reflects real needs. Staff can design highly tailored, discipline-specific interactions that feel authentic to students.”

The AI Conversation Sim uses specialised models like ChatGPT to deliver a fluid conversational experience, while maintaining safeguards, curriculum alignment and academic control.

The project has been recognised internationally, taking silver in the Immersive Experiential Learning category at the 2024 International QS Reimagine Education Awards.