ICAT Playdate — Mobile-based VR for informal STEM learning

Virtual reality (VR) technologies have great potential in STEM education because they provide immersive learning experiences that one cannot have in the real world. However, interactivity using VR head-mounted displays is often a solitary experience, isolating learners from the social and learning context. This makes it challenging to learn through collaborations with peers and instructors. Furthermore, many learners are excluded from using virtual reality headsets, including children, those who wear glasses, and those vulnerable to health concerns such as motion sickness, nausea, and falling. We address the barrier to inclusive and social VR experience by developing and deploying a mobile device-based VR platform to enable social learning. The project partners with the Science Museum of Western Virginia, the Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology (ICAT), and the Center for Educational Networks and Impacts (CENI) at Virginia Tech to support socially constructed, informal STEM learning for their wide range of visitors, including young children with family members, college students, and local K-12 school students.

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Location: Community Assembly, Creativity and Innovation District LLC