The use of virtual reality has increasingly come within reach of regular teaching in academia. The cost of the required hardware has dropped significantly, and the technique is simple enough for a layperson to use. The accelerating development of new teaching technologies prompts the question of to what extent new means and methods of teaching may make a complex topic such as the international law of armed conflict more digestible to students.
This chapter analyses both the opportunities and constraints of using virtual reality as a teaching method in international law of armed conflict courses. It provides some points of reference for teachers in international law who wish to introduce the use of new technology in their teaching methods. There are several specific questions that need to be addressed. What can applying the means and methods of virtual reality bring to a course on the international law of armed conflict? What are the necessary considerations for teachers to consider beforehand? How does one ensure that pedagogical considerations determine the use of technical tools rather than allowing technology to drive pedagogic decisions? As will be revealed in this chapter, the latter question is of particular concern in relation to the international law of armed conflict. In order to answer these questions, it is first necessary to establish a theoretical framework for teaching law at university. Next, this chapter discusses learning objectives for the international law of armed conflict and how they can be reconciled with virtual reality paradigms. Then the paper highlights some precautions to consider regarding introducing virtual reality in classes. Lastly, concluding remarks are provided.