Overview 

Southeastern Oklahoma State University is bringing virtual reality to higher education in Oklahoma! The Center for Instructional Development and Technology (CIDT) has spent much of 2020 and 2021 developing a process for planning, creating, and distributing Virtual Reality (VR) enabled modules for higher education. With support and resources provided by OneNet, virtual reality enabled modules are being developed to serve a variety of subjects in both STEM and the arts. Faculty from multiple departments are working with SEOSU staff and several student workers to design and develop these modules, which include a combination of 360 and 2D images and videos, to capture traditional classroom learning experiences. The modules provide an interactive learning environment that students can engage with either on a computer or with a VR headset.

This project is part of an open education resource (OER) initiative sparked by COLE and OCO. As an OER initiative, other institutions will be able to view and use the completed modules. Additionally, other partnering institutions will obtain access to template files to aid in the development of additional VR experiences throughout the state. Southeastern’s staff and student workers have developed this instructional guide to detail the process used and lessons learned from the project for the benefit of other institutions in the state.

By Christala Smith, Max Hamblin, Jarod West, Dakota Adams, Alison Haley, Nathaniel Marshell, Michael Pavon, Jakob Hackney, Madison Saunders, and Ammon Smith