VR in Education

Episode 135- Ready, Set, VR: The Power of Feasibility Studies for Successful Adoption

Hello everyone, and welcome to another exciting episode of VR in Education, where we explore the use of virtual reality in teaching and learning. Today, we’re diving into the often-overlooked yet essential first step before adopting virtual reality into your business or institution: conducting a feasibility study. A feasibility study is your roadmap to understanding whether VR aligns with your goals, resources, and long-term vision. It’s about assessing not just the technology’s potential but also your organization’s readiness, from technical infrastructure to staff training and scalability.  We’ll explore why this step saves you time, money, and headaches by helping you avoid pitfalls like investing in tools that don’t meet your needs or failing to gain stakeholder buy-in. We’ll also discuss how to structure a feasibility study, from identifying key objectives and gathering input from diverse teams.

Episode 134- Educators in VR and Sustaining a Community

Hello everyone, and welcome to another exciting episode of VR in Education, where we explore the use of virtual reality in teaching and learning. Today, we’re thrilled to be joined by  Lorelle VanFossen co-founder and director of Educators in VR.  Educators in VR is a global community connecting educators, researchers, and trainers to promote immersive learning through VR, AR, and MR technologies. With members worldwide, the organization bridges academia and industry, hosting weekly events and training. Educators in VR has produced well over 4,000 events, workshops, and training for over 70,000 participants and preparing them for the future of spatial technology in education.  Check out https://educatorsinvr.com/.

Episode 133- BrainmanVR and Pizza Maths

Hello everyone, and welcome to another exciting episode of VR in Education, where we explore the use of virtual reality in teaching and learning. Today, we’re thrilled to be joined by Dr Richard Lewis, CEO of BrainmanVR and co-creator of Pizza Maths. BrainmanVR is at the forefront of developing innovative VR learning experiences, focusing on engaging students in immersive and interactive ways. With their expertise in creating cutting-edge educational simulations, BrainmanVR has crafted Pizza Maths, a dynamic virtual experience that makes math learning fun and relatable by using pizza-making as a context for solving math problems. We’ll be diving into how Pizza Maths is helping to transform math education and gathering insights on how to effectively implement VR in the classroom to benefit both teachers and students.  To learn more check out https://www.brainmanvr.co.uk/.

Episode 132- Learning Experience Design, Engagement and its Intersection with VR

Hello everyone, and welcome to another exciting episode of VR in Education, where we explore the use of virtual reality in teaching and learning. Today, we’re thrilled to be joined by Clark Quinn who has an impressive background in Learning science and learning experience design.  Clark has written several impactful books, including "Make It Meaningful: Taking Learning Design from Instructional to Transformational," "Learning Science for Instructional Designers: From Cognition to Application," and "Engaging Learning_ Designing e-Learning Simulation Games." With numerous accolades for his innovative contributions to instructional design and educational technology, Clark is recognized as a leading consultant and keynote speaker.  To learn more about Clark Quinn check out https://quinnovation.com/.

Episode 131- AR and Immersive Learning

Hello everyone, and welcome to another exciting episode of VR in Education, where we explore the use of Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality in teaching and learning. Today, we’re thrilled to be joined by two incredible pioneers in experiential learning. Irina Paraschivoiu is the COO and strategist for Polycular and  Thomas Layer-Wagner the CEO and Founder of Polycular.  They both co-initiated and developed Escape Fake, a multiple-awarded augmented reality experience for teaching media literacy. We are excited to have them today to talk about their immersive learning experience.  For more information check out https://escapefake.org/ and https://www.polycular.com/ .

Episode 130- Immersive Learning In Agriculture

Hello everyone, and welcome to another exciting episode of VR in Education, where we explore the cutting edge of virtual reality in teaching and learning. Today, we’re thrilled to be joined by two incredible leaders in immersive technology for agriculture,  Tim Gentle, founder of Think Digital, and Kat Bidstrup, CEO of Think Digital. Tim has been a driving force in advancing immersive tech in agriculture, while Kat has been a passionate trailblazer, helping people gain a deeper understanding and respect for the agricultural industry through digital innovation.  To learn more check out www.think.digital , www.cattlevr.com, and www.farmvr.com. 

Episode 129-Exploring the Future of AI Avatars in Education

Welcome to another exciting episode of VR in Education! In today's solo episode, we delve into the innovative world of AI avatars and their potential in the educational landscape. Our host shares his firsthand experience beta testing Victory XR's new AI avatar platform and compares it to other non-avatar AI tools.

First, we explore the capabilities of non-avatar AI platforms like School AI and AI Tutor Pro, highlighting their strengths and limitations. These platforms offer various options for creating engaging learning experiences and supporting students, but they lack the immersive quality of AI avatars.

Next, we dive deep into the Victory XR platform, which allows educators to create 3D human representations within a virtual world. The discussion covers the setup process, the current limitations, and the exciting future possibilities of contextually relevant 3D environments.

The episode also examines another platform, EngageVR, which offers famous historical figures as AI avatars in contextually relevant VR spaces. The benefits and drawbacks of AI avatars are discussed, emphasizing the importance of human teachers in the learning process.

Finally, we reflect on the potential of AI avatars to personalize learning and provide varied practice opportunities. The episode concludes with recommendations for further exploration of AI avatars in education through insightful podcasts and resources.

Don't miss this deep dive into the future of AI in teaching and learning!

Episode 128-Can VR Simulation Assesss Clinical Competence

Hello everyone.  Welcome to another exciting episode of VR in Education, where we dive deep into virtual reality for teaching and learning.   Today we are fortunate to have Kimberly Workum. Kim is a Certified Nurse Educator, Simulation Educator, and  VR Consultant.  She is the  Director of the Clinical Competence Assessment Centre and Digital Strategies at the College of Nursing for the University of Manitoba. We are excited to have her on the show today to discuss the global nursing shortages and the innovative solutions being implemented to address these challenges.

Episode 127- The Evolution of Nursing Simulation with VR

Hello everyone.  Welcome to another exciting episode of VR in Education, where we dive deep into virtual reality for teaching and learning.   Today we are fortunate to have Will Kirkpatrick. Mr. Kirkpatrick, a certified Family Nurse Practitioner and game developer, leads technology innovation and nursing simulation development at Tactile VR. In 2021, he founded Tactile VR to revolutionize nursing education by addressing critical gaps in the transition to practice and enhancing preparedness for real-world scenarios. His dual expertise also allows him to improve nursing instructor tools through AI moderation in simulations, promoting more effective teaching methods.

Episode 126-The Importance of Play in VR and Learning with Kyle Morrand

Hello everyone.  Welcome to another exciting episode of VR in Education, where we dive deep into virtual reality for teaching and learning.   Today we are fortunate to have Kyle Morrand, CEO of 302 Interactive on the show.  His journey is nothing short of inspiring, having transformed 302 Interactive from a side business into a powerhouse in immersive technology.  What excites me most about having Kyle on the show is his innovative approach to learning through play. His work spans various impactful projects, from VR physical therapy programs for children to AR products aiding language learning and supporting people with nonverbal autism. Kyle's vision of integrating game design elements to enhance engagement in everyday tasks is truly revolutionary.