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Over the years, virtual reality has become a mythical new medium with promises of immersive gaming and enriched experiences. Novels and movies like Ready Player One have teased the potential – and raised the expectations. In many ways, though, the technology is a largely untapped resource for reasons varying from the usability of the equipment to the premium cost.
In this episode, however, we’ll hear from former Georgia Tech student Aditya Vishwanath and current Georgia Tech assistant professor Neha Kumar who are examining the potential for virtual reality in education and instruction. What are the affordances of the technology inside of a classroom, and how can issues of cost and access be overcome to ensure it is a truly democratized medium?
Note: Inspirit is now piloting a virtual reality curriculum on fostering a civic mindset by teaching ethics and design thinking as an integrated component of a 4-year undergraduate liberal arts degree program. This project is being conducted in partnership with Krea University in Sri City, India, and will be one of the first of many VR higher-ed curricula on social justice themes at scale.
Aditya and Neha, along with colleagues Sally Creel and Tamara Pearson will speak on this topic at SXSW EDU at 5 p.m. March 4 in Room 11AB of the Austin Convention Center in Austin, Texas.
