Extended Reality

Extended Reality (XR) is an umbrella term that includes virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR). XR technology aims to combine the physical world with a digital twin world that users can interact with, creating an immersive experience. Extended reality integrates real and virtual environments, creating immersive digital experiences. In retail, XR allows customers to try on clothes, view 3D product models, and explore interactive in-store displays virtually. These technologies are transforming traditional brick-and-mortar and e-commerce models.

• Extended Reality Basics

  Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality technologies have great potential to enhance teaching, learning, and research experiences in Higher Education. Recent studies show that the integration of these technologies in education can help to increase student engagement, facilitate deeper and conceptual understanding, offer opportunities for experiential learning, and bridge the gap between students and learning resources. Mixed reality is a blend of physical and digital worlds, unlocking natural and intuitive 3D human, computer, and environmental interactions. In MR experiences the user can interact with both digital and physical elements. MR differs from AR—where digital and physical elements don't interact— and VR—where the physical or real world is completely blocked out.

  What is Extended Reality?

  AR vs. VR vs. MR

  

  
  Features
  

  Feature/Aspect	Augmented Reality (AR)	Virtual Reality (VR)	Mixed Reality (MR)
  Definition	Superimposes digital content onto the real world	Creates a completely immersive digital environment	Combines elements of both AR and VR, interacting in real time
  User Experience	Enhances the real world with digital overlays	Replaces the real world with a simulated one	Integrates real and virtual environments for interactive experiences
  Equipment Needed	Smartphone, tablet, AR glasses	VR headset, controllers	Advanced headsets (e.g., Microsoft HoloLens), sensors, controllers
  Interaction Level	Limited to viewing and basic interaction with overlays	Full interaction within the virtual environment	Dynamic interaction with both real and virtual elements
  Examples	Pokémon GO, IKEA Place	Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, PlayStation VR	Microsoft HoloLens, Magic Leap
  Application in Education	Interactive textbooks, museum tours, enhanced lectures	Virtual field trips, lab simulations, immersive storytelling	Mixed reality labs, collaborative projects, interactive simulations
  Advantages	Easy integration, cost-effective, enhances real-world context	Immersive experiences, controlled environments	Rich interactive experiences, combines best of AR and VR
  Disadvantages	Limited immersion, potential for distraction	Expensive, requires dedicated space	High cost, complex setup, requires advanced technology

• Extended Reality in Teaching

  Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality technologies have great potential to enhance teaching, learning, and research experiences in Higher Education. Recent studies show that integrating these technologies in education can help to increase student engagement, facilitate deeper and conceptual understanding, offer opportunities for experiential learning, and bridge the gap between students and learning resources. Mixed reality is a blend of physical and digital worlds, unlocking natural and intuitive 3D human, computer, and environmental interactions. In MR experiences the user can interact with both digital and physical elements. MR differs from AR—where digital and physical elements don't interact— and VR—where the physical or real world is completely blocked out.

  Benefits of XR Adoption in Higher Education

  • Enhanced Engagement: The hands-on and multisensory nature of these technologies helps to stimulate interest and motivation, leading to improved learning outcomes.
  • Experiential Learning: Students can actively explore and interact with virtual objects, places, and phenomena, facilitating a deeper understanding of concepts and promoting practical skill development.
  • Visualization of Abstract Concepts: Students can grasp difficult concepts more easily and develop a concrete understanding by transforming abstract ideas into interactive 3D representations.
  • Active Learning & Problem-Solving: It allows students to analyze, synthesize, and make decisions within virtual environments, promoting critical thinking, creativity, and analytical skills. This active engagement with content leads to higher levels of comprehension and application of knowledge.
  • Personalized and Adaptive Learning: AR and VR technologies can be tailored to meet the individual needs of learners. Adaptive learning platforms can leverage these technologies to provide personalized content, adaptive feedback, and adaptive assessments, allowing students to learn at their own pace and receive targeted support.
  • Safe and Controlled Environments: AR and VR offer a safe and controlled environment for students to practice skills and experiment without real-world consequences. This is particularly valuable in disciplines such as medicine, engineering, and hazardous industries, where students can learn and make mistakes without risk.
  • Access to Remote Learning Resources: Virtual field trips, museum visits, and cultural experiences can be made available to students regardless of their location, broadening their educational horizons and providing equal opportunities.
  • Real-World Applications and Career Readiness: AR and VR provide students with exposure to real-world applications and scenarios relevant to their fields of study. By incorporating these technologies, educational institutions can better prepare students for future careers by equipping them with practical skills and experiences highly valued by employers.
  • Multicultural and Inclusive Learning: They can expose students to diverse cultures, perspectives, and historical events, fostering empathy, cultural understanding, and global citizenship.
  • Data Collection and Analysis: AR and VR technologies offer the capability to collect data on student interactions, behaviors, and performance within virtual environments. This data can provide valuable insights for educators to assess student progress, identify learning gaps, and personalize instruction.
  • Soft Skills Development: AR and VR can be employed to develop soft skills such as public speaking, leadership, and teamwork. Simulated scenarios and virtual environments can provide students with opportunities to practice and refine these skills.
  • Language Learning and Cultural Immersion: AR and VR can facilitate language learning by creating immersive environments where students can practice conversations with virtual characters or experience cultural contexts. This enhances language acquisition and cultural understanding.

  Educational Implications

  
  

  Aspect	Augmented Reality (AR)	Virtual Reality (VR)	Mixed Reality (MR)
  Engagement	Increases student engagement through interactive digital overlays	Immersive environments captivate and hold student attention	High engagement through interaction with both real and virtual elements
  Conceptual Understanding	Helps visualize abstract concepts by overlaying information	Enables exploration of complex systems in a controlled space	Facilitates deep understanding by blending real and virtual elements
  Experiential Learning	Offers real-world context with additional information	Provides hands-on experiences in a virtual setting	Combines real-world practice with virtual simulations
  Accessibility	Easily accessible via smartphones and tablets	Requires specific equipment, limiting accessibility	Requires advanced and often expensive equipment
  Collaboration	Enhances collaborative learning with shared AR experiences	VR can be isolating, but multi-user VR setups allow for interaction	Promotes collaboration through shared MR environments
  Cost	Generally low cost and easy to implement	High initial cost for VR headsets and setup	Very high cost for advanced MR technology and setup
  Learning Resources	Enhances traditional resources with interactive overlays	Provides entirely new resources and environments	Integrates physical resources with digital enhancements
  Practical Applications	Useful for interactive textbooks, museum guides, and field trips	Ideal for simulations, virtual field trips, and immersive storytelling	Perfect for mixed reality labs, collaborative projects, and interactive simulations
  Skill Development	Enhances spatial awareness and critical thinking	Develops problem-solving and technical skills	Combines physical skills with digital literacy
  Potential Challenges	Risk of distraction, limited immersion	High cost, potential for motion sickness	Complex setup, high cost, and technology barriers

  Common applications at Higher Education

  XR content is mostly used as a supportive document to present content in a more engaging and interactive way. However, the advanced designs can allow students to practice real-life tasks. Regardless of the type of content, the instructor can design a learning activity or assessment with XR content. Additionally, it can also be used for collaborative learning or in synchronous meetings. Common applications of XR technologies include:

  • Virtual Field Trips - Milk Production and Distribution in Ethiopia
  • 3D Models - Virtual Heart
  • 360 Trainings - Anesthesiology
  • Simulation-Based Training - Patient Care and Treatment
  • Interactive, simulated environment - Teaching Construction Methods in Landscape Architecture
  • Virtual Laboratories - Organic Chemistry Lab
  • Metaversity – Gym Class in the Virtual World

  
  
• Extended Reality at William Paterson Univeristy

  If you are interested in implementing any immersive reality in your course, you check out the tools from IRT. These devices are only available to faculty members at William Paterson University. If you are new to this technology, the IRT staff is available to help you learn how to use the technology, the setup process, find applications for your curriculum, and any other questions you may have. Our immersive lab has a free subscription to VivePort, an online store for virtual reality content, that offers a variety of free and paid software you can explore on-site. The content is only available for use in the Vive headset.

  List of VR Equipment

  
  

  Oculus Quest 2 (Stand Alone)	HTC XR Elite (Tethered)	Oculus Rift (Tethered)	HP G2 Omnicept (Tethered)

  Additional Resources

  • Immersive Lab: This lab is located in LI110.
    
  • Viewport Subscription: We have a free VR library subscription in our Immersive Lab.
  • Free and low-cost resource library (coming soon): This library will help you to try out VR content related to your field.
  • Instructional Designer support for planning: Our XR specialist will assist you with planning and executing the technology implementation.
  • Technical Assistance: You can contact us directly to get technical assistance.

• Extended Reality Guidelines

  Implementing Extended Reality (XR) in education can enhance learning by providing immersive, interactive, and engaging experiences. Below are some guidelines for effectively incorporating XR into teaching:

  Planning and Preparation

  • Clearly outline the learning objectives that XR can help achieve. Determine how XR will enhance understanding and engagement.
  • Integrate XR into the curriculum where it adds value. Identify specific lessons or topics that will benefit from immersive experiences.
  • Ensure access to necessary XR equipment and software. Plan for budget, technical support, and maintenance.

  Content Development and Selection

  • Choose or develop high-quality XR content that aligns with your curriculum. Collaborate with developers or use educational platforms with pre-existing XR content.
  • Ensure the XR content is relevant to the subject matter and fits within the context of your teaching goals.
  • Customize XR experiences to meet specific learning outcomes. Modify or create content to better suit your educational needs.

  Student Engagement and Inclusivity

  • Provide an orientation session for students to familiarize them with XR technology and its use in the course.
  • Ensure XR experiences are accessible to all students, including those with disabilities.
  • Follow accessibility guidelines and provide alternative learning options when necessary.
  • Design XR activities that encourage active participation and engagement, such as interactive simulations, virtual field trips, and hands-on practice in virtual environments.

  Instructional Strategies

  • Integrate XR as part of a blended learning approach, combining traditional teaching methods with XR to enhance learning experiences.
  • Use XR for experiential learning opportunities, allowing students to explore, experiment, and interact with content in a virtual setting.
  • Facilitate collaborative XR experiences where students can work together in virtual environments, fostering teamwork and communication skills.
  • Encourage students to provide feedback on their XR experiences. Incorporate reflection activities to help them process and apply what they have learned.

  Assessment and Evaluation

  • Use XR to conduct formative assessments, such as virtual quizzes, interactive tasks, and skill demonstrations, to gauge student understanding in real-time.
  • Design summative assessments that incorporate XR experiences, evaluating students' ability to apply knowledge and skills in immersive environments.
  • Establish clear performance metrics to assess the effectiveness of XR in achieving learning outcomes. Use analytics from XR platforms to monitor student progress and engagement.

  Ethical and Privacy Considerations

  • Protect student data by ensuring compliance with privacy laws and institutional policies. Handle data collected through XR applications responsibly.
  • Address ethical considerations, such as the potential for distraction or misuse of XR technology. Establish guidelines for appropriate and respectful use.

• Extended Reality Webinars and Workshops

  Extended Reality Training Opportunities

  CTT team can assist you on adopting these feature on your teaching area. Please use one of the followig options to get connected.

  Webinars Workshops Consultations Walk-in

• Extended Reality Resources

  The Recordings of Webinars on Extended Reality

  Introduction to Virtual Reality	Introduction to Agumented Reality Coming soon	Introduction to Mixed Reality Coming soon

  Design, Build, and Learn Lab

  Faculty members can schedule a session with the IRT team to try out our wireless Vive Pro device in the Design, Build & Learn Lab at LI110.

  Virtual Reality Platforms

  The Virtual Reality platforms are online stores where you can download either free or paid apps to use with our headsets. Each platform offers different titles and differing headset compatibility. The IRT has a subscription to VivePort and currently developing a large app library. Faculty members can request apps to be downloaded to test out and use for classes.

  • VivePort: Offers a variety of free and paid for software but is only available for use in the Vive headset.
  • Steam: Applications on Steam are created by both independent and established developers, so the headset compatibility varies depending on the application.
  • Oculus Store: Offers a variety of free and paid for software but is only available for use with Meta VR hardware. Apps on the Oculus store are available for standalone or tethered use.

  
  

  App Library

  Coming soon.

• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
  How can I start with Virtual Reality?

  Step 1: Attend the XR webinars and workshops or watch the recordings.
  Step 2: Meet with Immersive Lab Staff to experiment with VR and get familiar with the virtual environment.
  Step 3: Consider the technology and content you need based on your learning outcomes.
  Step 4: Plan the budget if needed.
  Step 5: Meet with the Instructional Designer for consultation if needed.

  Can I borrow any VR equipment?

  Faculty can borrow a stand-alone VR device from the IRT department. Please contact Chris Weber (weberc@wpunj.edu) for more information.

  How can find VR content?

  Educational VR content is a growing field that offers immersive learning experiences across various subjects and disciplines. CTT is working on a free or low-cost content library which will be posted on its website.
  Below, are some paid platforms, applications, and resources for VR content.

  Company	Features
  VictoryXR	Specializes in educational VR and AR content. Offers comprehensive virtual learning environments and curriculum content for subjects such as biology, history, and chemistry. Provides options for virtual dissections, historical site tours, and more.
  Labster	Offers virtual lab simulations for science education, including biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering. Provides detailed and interactive virtual experiments and lab scenarios.
  Unimersiv	Provides educational VR experiences in a variety of subjects including history, science, and anatomy. Offers applications such as "Titanic VR" and "Human Anatomy VR."
  ENGAGE	A virtual reality education and training platform that supports virtual classrooms, training sessions, and meetings. Used by universities for interactive lessons and collaborative learning.

  What are some tools I can use to create XR content?

  You can create XR (Extended Reality) content, which encompasses Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR), by using various tools and platforms. Please note that some of the tools will require coding skills. The choice of tool often depends on the specific requirements of your project, such as the target platform, the desired level of interactivity, and the creator's technical proficiency.

  Category	Tool	Features
  VR Content Creation	Unity	A versatile game engine widely used for developing VR experiences. Supports a variety of VR platforms such as Oculus, HTC Vive, and PlayStation VR. Extensive asset store and community support.
  	Blender	A free and open-source 3D creation suite. Great for creating 3D models and animations for VR environments. Integrates well with Unity.
  	Sketchfab	A platform for publishing, sharing, and discovering 3D, VR, and AR content. Supports a wide range of 3D file formats. Can be used to embed interactive 3D models on websites.
  AR Content Creation	Adobe Aero	Intuitive drag-and-drop interface makes it accessible for both designers and developers. No coding required, allowing for rapid prototyping and content creation. Create AR experiences that can be viewed on iOS and Android devices. Supports both mobile and tablet platforms, increasing accessibility. Build complex scenes with multiple assets and interactions.
  	Reality Composer	An AR authoring tool by Apple. Allows users to create interactive AR experiences without extensive coding. Integrated with Xcode for iOS development.
  MR Content Creation	Microsoft Mixed Reality Toolkit (MRTK)	An open-source toolkit for developing MR applications. Supports HoloLens and Windows Mixed Reality headsets. Works with Unity.