The Teaching, Learning, and Technology Roundtable (TLTR) congratulates the winners of Technology for Innovative Learning & Teaching Pilot Project Grants for 2022.

VR Tours: Stories of Austin

• Kim Garza, Visual Studies, Arts and Humanities
• Steve Fletcher, Teaching, Learning, and Culture, Behavioral and Social Sciences

This collaborative project will be implemented in Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 and supports Strategic Plan 2027 by engaging students in experiential learning and knowledge production in the context of the city of Austin.  Education and User Experience (UX) design students will create virtual reality (VR) tours of locations in Austin.  Please note that there will be a second 2022 deadline for project proposals in the Fall, and we will announce any newly approved projects at that time.

VR Tours: Stories of Austin

Kim Garza, Associate Professor of Graphic Design and Steven Fletcher, Associate Professor, Teaching, Learning, and Culture

Oculus Quest 2 VR Headset & Controllers

VR Tours: Stories of Austin is a collaborative, interdisciplinary project where EDUC and UXDE students will create an immersive virtual reality (VR) tour for public use that tells stories of important public places in Austin, such as parks, museums, and cultural landmarks. EDUC students will focus on observation and exploration of a space within the context of learning objectives. UXDE students will focus on the choreography of moving through the space and the overlay of relevant information. Both sets of students will learn from each others’ perspectives and engagement with Austin’s public places. Everyone walks away with practical skills in VR that apply to a myriad of contexts from the classroom to video games, training simulations, museums, and more. Through VR Tours: Stories of Austin, our students will develop a thoughtful approach to VR that considers its power to foster wonder, build empathy, and teach about the world.

Find out about previously funded projects on the Pilot Projects webpage.