IT Innovation + Research - XR Collective

ENHANCING LEARING WITH EXTENDED REALITY

The XR Collective is a collaborative of faculty, staff, and students - focused on discovering, exploring, experimenting, and accelerating the application of Extended Reality (XR) to transform teaching and learning at Grand Valley State University.

The founding members of this initiative include: Paul Hillman and Dawn Brackmann (Seidman College of Business), Courtney Topic (School of Criminology), David Shultz and Chris Cirefice (Language Resource Center), Hunter Bridwell, Erion Adams, Joseph Van Harken, and Eric Kunnen (Innovation + Research), Ty Rizer (Simulation Center), and Kelley Senkowski (eLearning Technologies).

The collective meets once a month, with students from the Student Technology and Innovation Guild (STING) and IT Innovation + Research Faculty Fellows to pioneer the future of education through emerging technologies, including: virtual, augmented, and mixed reality as well as 360 degree immersive video and artificial intelligence. 

XR Collective

Be Inspired and Connect with Us!

Looking for examples of extended reality use in teaching and learning?

Additionally, if you are looking to join our collaborative, or if you are in search of advice, or have a question around extended reality applications at GVSU, please contact the IT Innovation + Research team ([email protected]) for a consultation meeting. We are looking forward to inventing the future with you!

A screen capture of a 360 courtroom.

Courtney Topic, J.D. in the Legal Studies department is using virtual reality combined with 360 degree experiences for providing students with immersive experiences related to courtrooms.

Person with a VR headset in an archaeological site.

Dr. Mark Schwartz, Dr. Yifat Thareani, Dr. Elizabeth Arnold, and Dr. Jonathan Greer from the Anthropology Department are using 360 video as well as VR headsets for the exploration of archaeological sites such as Tel Dan in Israel.

Paul Hillman wearing a headset providing a demonstration in a classroom.

Professor Paul Hillman and Dawn Brackmann J.D. from the Seidman College of Business are leveraging virtual reality to conduct simulation for business related interactions using an AI-powered application called Ovation VR as well as exploring live collaboration with Microsoft Mesh and Meta Horizon World.

A photo from a resource fair, showing a table with international flags as well as virtual reality headsets. There is a screen in the background showing a location in europe.

David Shultz and Chris Cirefice from the Language Resource center are using virtual reality for modern language learning with faculty in the Language Resource Center. Currently they are using applications including: Immerse Me and Wander.


Call for Proposals

Inspired? Let's build something amazing together - leveraging emerging technologies and your ideas! The I+R team has a running INNOVATION CALL FOR PROPOSALS whereby we seek innovative submissions from faculty and staff at GVSU.


Partners

Our current industry partners include: 

"Transforming education through innovation..."



Page last modified July 17, 2025