Step Into the Future: VR Innovation in Penn Libraries

Step into the world of Virtual Reality (VR) and discover its potential beyond entertainment. Through interactive gameplay, students will gain hands-on experience with VR technology, learning to navigate equipment, understand game mechanics, and engage in immersive digital environments. Beyond just playing, this exploration will spark discussions on how VR can transform education, research, and innovation. Join us in redefining the future of learning through cutting-edge virtual experiences!

Our mission is to help instructors empower students with hands-on experience in Virtual Reality (VR) technology, fostering curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking. By providing access to immersive digital environments, we aim to bridge the gap between entertainment and education, exploring VR’s transformative potential in research, learning, and innovation. Through interactive experiences and interdisciplinary collaboration, we strive to push the boundaries of knowledge and inspire the next generation of innovators.

If you're looking to integrate immersive technologies into your course, event, or research project, we’re here to help. Our team can design tailored VR demonstrations that align with your objectives, provide hands-on experiences, assist with workshops, or support your lectures to enhance learning and engagement. From initial concept development to implementation and assessment, we support you at every stage, ensuring that VR becomes a seamless and impactful part of your educational endeavors.

Please note: Our devices are primarily intended for use in workshops and lectures, and rental is available exclusively to faculty members. Additionally, if you require assistance with booking a room at Weigle Information Commons to facilitate your workshop, we are happy to provide support.

Our team offers various VR applications and solutions designed to enhance teaching, learning, and research. Whether you want to incorporate immersive experiences into your curriculum, conduct virtual simulations, or provide interactive training sessions, we can assist in selecting VR applications that align with your course objectives. We also provide personalized lesson plans and consultations to help you seamlessly integrate VR technology into your instructional strategies.

Our Services Include:

• Access to VR Devices – Faculty members can utilize Meta/Oculus Quest 3 headsets for classroom instruction, research, and hands-on experimentation.
• Training and Technical Support – We provide comprehensive support on device setup, application downloads, and best practices for effectively integrating VR into educational settings. Additionally, we offer one-on-one sessions for instructors, allowing them to explore various VR applications, familiarize themselves with hand controller functions, and gain hands-on experience to enhance their teaching with VR technology.
• Co-Hosting VR Workshops – We collaborate with instructors to deliver workshops that showcase the potential of VR in education.
• In-Class VR Assistance – Our team is available to assist instructors when incorporating VR into lesson sessions, ensuring a smooth and immersive learning experience for students.

Faculty members interested in incorporating Virtual Reality (VR) technologies into teaching can fill out the ETLM Consultation/Instruction Form to schedule an appointment with us for a hands-on exploration of VR applications and devices. We also provide support in designing engaging and interactive learning experiences using VR technology.

If further assistance is required, please do not hesitate to contact:  

• David Toccafondi – davidtoc@upenn.edu
• Leqi Liu – liuleqi@upenn.edu