VR in Education

Episode 170-Beyond the Headsets: Running a VR Lab That Actually Works

Welcome to another exciting episode of VR in Education, where we explore how virtual reality is used to transform teaching and learning.

In today’s episode, we are joined by Jamie Giarraputo, who runs a busy and highly active VR lab at South Thames College.

Jamie has been sharing short, practical insights from his day-to-day work, giving a rare look into what it actually takes to run VR sessions at scale. In this conversation, we move beyond the idea of VR as a tool and get into the systems behind it, from setup and safety to onboarding, session design, and what makes an experience truly worth using in the classroom.

Episode 169-What Makes Quality Immersive VR? Moving Beyond the Hype

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.

Today’s conversation gets right to the heart of a question many educators are wrestling with: What actually makes immersive learning high quality? It is one thing to put students into a headset. It is another thing entirely to ensure that what happens inside that experience is aligned, intentional, and impactful.

I am thrilled to be joined by Dr. Erica Barhorst-Cates, who has been deeply involved in research connected to Pearson’s focus on learning efficacy and their partnership with Meta to better understand what effective immersive learning truly looks like. Together, we are going to unpack the emerging Framework and discuss what teachers need to consider when bringing immersive experiences into their classrooms.

Episode 168-From Isolation to Connection: What Education Can Learn from VR in Aged Care

Hello everyone, welcome to another exciting episode of VR in Education, where we explore how virtual reality is transforming teaching,  learning and our everyday lives. Today I’m joined by Colin Pudsey, Founder of SilVR Adventures. Through his work with SilVR Adventures, Colin has focused on creating meaningful, shared experiences for older adults, helping to spark connection, memory, and engagement. In this conversation, we explore what educators can learn from that work, especially when it comes to designing experiences that go beyond the “wow factor” and truly impact people.  Check out SilVR Adentures here, https://silvradventures.com.au/

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.