Redesigning a Clinical Optometry Course through Immersive Simulation and Peer Formative Assessment: A Design Proposal to Foster Evaluative Judgement in Higher Education

Abstract

This contribution presents the design of an immersive learning innovation project aimed at transforming the course Low Vision and Visual Rehabilitation into a Master’s Degree in Clinical Optometry at the UPC (Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya), at the Terrassa School of Optics and Optometry (FOOT). The proposal integrates immersive simulation technologies (VR/AR glasses) with formative peer assessment as core pedagogical strategies to foster evaluative judgement, clinical reasoning, and professional self-regulation in optometry students. The work-in-progress paper contributes a practice-oriented instructional design model that integrates immersive simulation and formative peer assessment to support evaluative judgement development in professional education. The redesigned course is structured around authentic immersive scenarios that simulate different low-vision conditions, combined with iterative peer feedback loops supported by shared assessment criteria. Students are positioned both as assessors and assesses, engaging in structured comparison, feedback dialogue, and reflection on clinical decision-making. The proposed design seeks to address common challenges in health sciences education, such as the gap between theoretical knowledge and clinical judgement, the limited development of assessment literacy, and the passive role traditionally assigned to students in assessment processes. By embedding peer assessment within immersive simulations, the project aims to promote deeper engagement, ethical awareness, and the development of transferable professional competencies. This design-based contribution offers a replicable and adaptable model for integrating immersive learning and formative assessment in higher education, particularly in clinical and health-related disciplines, and contributes actionable insights to the field of immersive learning education and design.