A Study on Educators’ Requirements for Integrating VR in Post-secondary Classes

The acceleration in affordable hardware has fueled a tremendous increase in the number of Virtual Reality (VR) applications in the learning domain. However, understanding the extent to which existing VR products satisfy instructors’ expectations in teaching university-level classes is crucial to streamlining future design endeavors. We conducted a study with 16 university-level instructors to understand their outlook toward VR technology and selected off-the-shelf applications. Through qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews and observations across multiple stages, we present trends in instructors’ requirements. Additionally, we collected information about the instructors’ expectations and preferences for teaching a VR-led course, along with a general assessment of the aptitude of the selected applications through their lens. The results identify the opportunities and challenges surrounding the adoption of VR technology in higher education and help define the needs for future software design as well as curriculum planning efforts.