Extending XR across Campus

Published:: Tuesday, May 12, 2020
: Briefs, Case Studies, Papers, Reports

Author(s) and Contributors:: Author(s): Jeffrey Pomerantz

Source(s) and Collection(s):: Sources(s): EDUCAUSE Research Collection(s): Research Hub Research Report

ParentTopics:: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Extended Reality (XR) Instructional Design Instructional Technologies IT Effectiveness IT Support Services Learning Space Licensing Research Student Learning Support Student Success Teaching and Learning Technology Selection Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)

The HP/EDUCAUSE Campus of the Future project is in its second year of investigation into the benefits of virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) for teaching, learning, and research at the institution.

Read report: HTML | PDF | Executive Summary

Note from the EDUCAUSE Research Team

This EDUCAUSE/HP Campus of the Future report on XR deployment and adoption in higher education was completed before the onset of COVID-19. While references to campus-based activities may now feel out-of-place, the potential of XR to enhance teaching and learning will likely persist beyond the end of the pandemic. Addressing barriers to adoption and equity in access to these emerging technologies can and should remain a goal.

Key Findings

The HP/EDUCAUSE Campus of the Future project continues to be one of the most broadly comprehensive studies to date on the integration of 3D technologies into higher education. This third report examines the factors that influence institutional deployment of XR technologies, building on previous efforts to identify types of learning goals that are effectively conducive to and supported by XR technologies and factors that influence the effectiveness of XR technologies for achieving learning goals.

In collaboration with HP, 17 institutions were given AR, VR, and 3D printing and scanning technologies, which were used in myriad ways to create immersive and innovative learning experiences for students during the 2018-19 academic year. These institutions included returning participants from last year's study, as well as institutions new to the study to expand our study sample. Through interviews with institutional leaders and staff, as well as supplemental analyses of documents and artifacts, this study offers a number of important findings.

Adoption

The adoption of XR on campus is influenced by how XR comes to campus and by the organizational structure of the institution. Read more about adoption of XR >

Deployment Issues

Software licensing, hardware management, staffing, and institutional leadership are significant issues for the deployment of XR on campus. Read more about deployment issues >

Deployment Models

Deployments of XR on campus fall into one of three models: the special initiative, service integration, and grassroots. Read more about deployment models >

XR Labs

A campus XR lab may actually be two distinct spaces: a computer lab and a studio space. Read more about XR lab spaces >

Access

Providing access to XR technology is a matter of social equity. Read more about access to XR >