Research Guides: VR Research: VR for Teaching

Curriculum Development

This section is curated specifically for teachers to explore pedagogical approaches to VR technology in a classroom setting, including critical digital pedagogy and accessibility.

XR Accessibility
UC Berkeley’s guide to VR accessibility based on the principles of Universal Design for Learning.
Extended Reality and Accessibility
An article by Ruth Le from the University of Michigan about VR accessibility in the context of online teaching.
When One Class is Not Enough
An article by Amanda Licastro about teaching a course that serves as “a space for students to engage in the much needed discourse of social justice through the lens of rhetorical empathy” – one aspect of which involves incorporating analysis of VR projects and critiques of VR from scholars of critical media studies.
Practical Steps for an Effective Virtual Reality Course Integration
A College and Undergraduate Libraries journal article by Matt Cook and Zack Lischer-Katz on integrating VR into academic library workshops and undergraduate course curriculum.
Deepening Engagement and Learning Impact through Virtual Reality Activations. Case Study Project: On the Morning You Wake (to the End of the World)
A Games for Change: XR for Change white paper by Jan Plass, Bruce Homer, Michaela Ternasky-Holland, and Erinn Budd, on the levels of engagement and learning experienced by participants in education settings by comparing first-hand accounts of using VR headsets vs. 2D tablets.

Ethical virtual reality in the college classroom : cross-disciplinary case studies of immersive technology implementation by Edited by Melody Bowdon, Kevin Yee, and William Dorner
ISBN: 9781003329718
Publication Date: 2024
"Ethical Considerations of Virtual Reality in the College Classroom collects case studies that address both pedagogical and ethical foundations of extended reality tools in postsecondary learning environments across disciplines. With today's institutional programs and faculty leveraging cutting-edge virtual, augmented, and mixed reality opportunities to teach and promote achievement goals, it is imperative that new research into these technologies speak directly to their challenges and affordances within broad academic settings. This book showcases real-world examples of faculty members who chronicle and develop their use of VR tools across learning contexts and student populations by creating their own digital experiences, adapting open-source tools, integrating commercial products, amplifying crucial course content, analyzing outcomes data, and more. Nontechnical readers will come away with a new understanding of key terms and concepts associated with virtual reality and essential heuristics for evaluating the ethical implications of immersive approaches"-- Provided by publisher.
Creating Immersive Learning Experiences Through Virtual Reality (VR) by Edited by Shaik Mazhar Hussain and Ahmed Nawaz Hakro
ISBN: 9798369364093
Publication Date: 2024-09-16
In the evolving educational environment, the search for engaging and effective learning experiences has led to the research and implementation of the latest technologies. Among them, virtual reality (VR) stands out as a transformative tool that promises to redefine the transmission and absorption of information. Bringing VR to education is not just a technical innovation, but a pedagogical revolution. It represents a shift from passive learning to active learning, where students are not only observers but participants in their educational journey. Creating Immersive Learning Experiences Through Virtual Reality (VR) provides a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of the application of VR technologies in education, highlighting the gaps in current literature, future research goals, and facilitating interdisciplinary collaboration among technologists, educators, and policymakers to better address the complex challenges of the effective adoption of these technologies. This book provides case studies, evidence-based knowledge and practical guidance regarding ethical concerns, theoretical foundations, practical applications, and pedagogical strategies.