Abstract: Virtual reality (VR) has the potential to revolutionize the way we learn and educate, enhancing and supplementing the traditional learning experience by providing new ways to interact with information and people. However, its full potential in education has yet to be fully realized, as work in this space requires resolving cutting-edge technical challenges and addressing context-specific, user-centered, and pedagogical concerns in real-world settings. In this talk, I will introduce my research which is aimed at pursuing the vision of educational VR through 1) empirical investigations from a multi-stakeholder perspective to understand educational VR adoption and usage, and 2) immersive technologies that enhance social learning experiences. I will advocate key strategies to drive the future of educational VR: lowering the entry level of VR creation tools, fostering collaborative and social experiences, and emphasizing community engagement as the foundational element for inclusive VR adoption.

Short Bio: Qiao (Georgie) Jin is a PhD candidate in the Computer Science and Engineering Department at the University of Minnesota, Grouplens Research Center. Her research focuses on using AR/VR/MR to support remote learning, collaboration, and social connection. Her work has been published and recognized at top-tier venues in HCI and social computing (ACM CHI, CSCW, IDC etc.), including a CHI Best Paper Honorable Mention and Best Toio Award at UIST Student Contest. Furthermore, she is a recipient of the Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship from the University of Minnesota, providing support for her research endeavors.