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Virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality technologies - sometimes collectively referred to as Extended Reality (XR) - are poised to revolutionize education by increasing student engagement, interest, and learning outcomes (Di Natale et al., 2020). Numerous faculty are innovating to include XR content in their courses. However, knowledge about immersive learning is scattered across campus, making XR too expensive, inefficient, or out-of-reach for many.
At the same time, a 2022 survey of 1,000 business executives revealed that 46% of companies sought employees with metaverse-related skills and had an increased need in an upskilled workforce (PwC, 2022).
University Center for Assessment, Technology, and Teaching (UCATT), CATalyst Studios (UA Libraries), and Office of Distance and Continuing Education (OCDE) created an XR Consortium to bring people together who are either working in or have an interest about XR together to start building a community. The goals are to:
- Identify and address immersive learning and design needs of faculty and staff.
- Increase student access to fully immersive experiential learning opportunities and upskilling.
- Generate strategic direction for future institutional investment and support for VRT.
Whether you are an XR expert or someone who is curious but has never put on a headset, you are welcome to join the listserv and attend monthly XR Collaborative gatherings to learn more about activities on campus, find funding opportunities, and connect with people who can help with your XR project.