VR in Education

Episode 167-Immersion vs Accessibility: Where Does PortalVR Fit in Education?

Hello everyone, welcome to another exciting episode of VR in Education, where we explore how virtual reality can enhance teaching and learning.

VR has opened up powerful possibilities by placing learners inside experiences. But today, we are exploring a different angle.

What happens when you remove the headset?

In this episode, I am joined by Greg Fodor, creator of PortalVR, a tool that streams VR experiences directly into a browser so users can interact without wearing a headset. It promises greater accessibility and ease of use, but also raises important questions about what makes VR effective for learning.

You can reach Greg at https://portalvr.io/ or through email at gfodor@portalvr.io

Episode 166-VR Without the IT Headache: Managed Support for the Modern Classroom

Hello everyone, welcome to another exciting episode of VR in Education, where we explore how virtual reality can enhance teaching and learning. In today’s episode, we’re diving into a side of immersive learning that doesn’t always get the spotlight but determines whether VR succeeds or stalls in schools. It’s one thing to design a powerful virtual experience. It’s another to deploy, manage, and sustain the technology that makes that experience possible.

I’m joined by Laura Piza, COO and Co-Founder of Reboot Imagine, and Jonathan Chavez, Co-founder, to unpack what it really takes to support VR at scale. t. For many educators and leaders, the real challenge begins after the headsets are purchased. Ensuring that virtual reality tools actually function smoothly and meaningfully when students walk into the classroom requires thoughtful planning and systems. Also check out their website, https://www.rebootimagine.com/

Episode 165-The Immersive Learning Event Playbook: What Actually Works

Hello everyone, welcome to another exciting episode of VR in Education, where we dive into how virtual reality is being used for teaching and learning in real, practical, and meaningful ways.

Today I’m joined by Jay Schnoor, CEO of VEDX. Jay has worked closely with educators and immersive learning teams around the world, and in this episode we’re talking about what actually drives adoption—events, conversations, and the moments that move people from curiosity to action.

Episode 164- When VR Makes Us Care: Immersive Storytelling for Education and Advocacy

Hello everyone, welcome to another exciting episode of VR in Education, where we dive into how virtual reality is being used for teaching and learning in real, practical, and meaningful ways.

Today, we’re exploring the power of immersive storytelling and what it means to use VR not just to inform, but to help people truly care. I’m joined by two guests—Ryan D’Souza, a human rights advocate and immersive storytelling producer, and Thikran Mato, a Yazidi genocide survivor who has been deeply involved in bringing this work into schools. Together, we’ll unpack how experiences like Nobody’s Listening use VR to foster empathy, responsibility, and reflection around complex global issues—and what this means for educators thinking about VR for good.

Episode 163-VR is Not Dead with Melinda Cuilty

Hello everyone, welcome to another exciting episode of VR in Education, where we dive into how virtual reality is being used for teaching and learning in real, practical, and meaningful ways. Today’s conversation tackles a big question in immersive learning right now: while some voices are saying “VR is dead,” what does it actually look like when VR is done well and scaled with intention? 

To help us unpack this, I’m thrilled to be joined by Melinda Cuilty from New Mexico State University. Melinda brings firsthand experience moving VR beyond one-off pilots and into sustainable, campus-wide use, working closely with faculty, leadership, and students along the way.

Episode 162-Finding Your Voice in VR: Learning, Confidence, and Resilience with VR Comedy

Hello everyone, welcome to another exciting episode of VR in Education, where we explore the use of VR for teaching and learning.

Today I’m joined by Aaron Sorrels, founder and world creator of The Soapstone Comedy Club, to talk about the recent launch of Soapstone Comedy – Heckler’s Bay in Meta Horizon worlds. We’ll explore how this social VR space supports confidence, communication, and skill development for teens and young adults, and what educators can learn from its approach to safety, avatars, and learning transfer from virtual performance to real-world settings.  Check out https://www.soapstonecomedy.com/.

Episode 161-Scaling Immersive Learning: Inside the Melcher VR Hub

Hello everyone, welcome to another exciting episode of VR in Education, where we explore how VR is being used for teaching and learning. Today we’re talking about one of the most important challenges in immersive learning: how to scale VR beyond a single demo or one-off experience.

Joining me is Dwayne Melcher, CEO of Melcher Studios, the team behind the innovative VR Hub — a growing library of job-role simulations, safety modules, and career exploration experiences designed to help institutions deliver meaningful VR training at scale, including in remote or hard-to-reach communities.

In this episode, we’ll explore the story behind the VR Hub, why so many organizations struggle to expand their VR use, and how Melcher Studios is creating solutions that make immersive learning more accessible and sustainable.

Episode 160-From Cubism to Laser Dance: The Art of Motion, Movement, and Mixed Reality

Hello everyone, welcome to another exciting episode of VR in Education.
In today’s episode, we’re thrilled to reconnect with a returning guest — Thomas Van Bouwel, the creative mind behind one of VR’s most elegant puzzle experiences, Cubism. Last time Thomas joined us, we explored how Cubism invited players into a meditative world of calm, spatial problem-solving. Today, he’s back with something completely different — Laser Dance, a new mixed-reality experience that turns your physical room into a dynamic obstacle course where you move, dodge, and flow through lasers in real time. We’ll talk about how Thomas transitioned from designing quiet, contemplative puzzles to creating full-body movement experiences, how mixed reality is reshaping play and learning.

Episode 159- Preventing the Shiny New Toy Syndrome in Immersive Technology

Hello everyone, and welcome to another exciting episode of VR in Education, where we explore how virtual reality is transforming teaching and learning around the world.

In today’s episode, we’re joined by Tyler Heaton, Research & Industry Liaison at Lethbridge Polytechnic. We’ll be talking about how to avoid the “shiny toy syndrome” when it comes to immersive technologies—ensuring that schools and institutions don’t just chase novelty, but instead focus on meaningful and sustainable integration. You can reach out to Tyler at Tyler.heaton@lethpolytech.ca or check out https://lethpolytech.ca/.

Episode 158-Creating Meaningful Learning Through VR Games with the Makers of Europa Prime

Hello everyone, and welcome back to another episode of VR in Education. Today we’re diving into the world of educational game design in VR with a truly exciting guest. Joining me is Jeff Rayner, Founder and CEO of MXTreality and Drivers of Tomorrow, and one of the creative minds behind Europa Prime.

Europa Prime is a VR game set on one of Jupiter’s moons, where players uncover mysteries, restore systems, and engage in problem solving across a wide range of environments—from microbial labs to hydrothermal vents. It’s a project that blends science, storytelling, and immersive gameplay, offering learners a chance to engage with complex content in a way no textbook ever could.

In our conversation today, we’ll explore what it takes to build a game like Europa Prime, the challenges of balancing learning and fun.