VR in Higher Education: Research, Teaching, and Future Opportunities

Virtual reality (VR) technology has undergone a long technological development cycle. With the introduction of Oculus in 2012, and subsequent competitors, VR has become a more viable platform - starting primarily as a means for immersive gaming but has branched into work, social, and education sectors. Thanks to cheaper headsets and better social platforms, VR is now poised to be a viable research and teaching tool in higher education.

This presentation will provide insight into VR as a teaching and research tool from the perspective of two educators from Mount Royal University. The presenters will provide an overview of VR development, where the technology is at today, and how it will be used for research and teaching in higher education. Tony Chaston, an Associate Professor in Psychology, will discuss his research using VR nature scenes to reduce stress, and how this led to his interest in VR course development using the AltSpaceVR platform. Erik Christiansen, an Assistant Professor/Librarian for the Psychology program, will share his experience learning the software and hardware to support VR teaching and research, and discuss the skills librarians will need moving forward. The presenters will also provide their perspective on where VR is going, the challenges and opportunities for broad adoption of VR in higher education, and avenues for student involvement in research and teaching.

Presenters: Tony Chaston, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Mount Royal University & Erik Christiansen, Assistant Professor, Library, Mount Royal University

Presentation Time: Friday May 28, 2021, 9:15-9:45 MDT