Boosting Student Engagement: Discover Carl Sandburg College's Virtual Reality Studio

In an era where technology continues to alter the education landscape, educators are constantly seeking innovative ways to engage and empower their students. One institution that has made significant strides in this direction is Carl Sandburg College, where its Virtual Reality Studio has emerged as a beacon of transformation.

Cindy Arthur, Coordinator of Instructional Technology, received 2020 Staff Member of the Year

Every School Needs a VR Champion

At the helm of this transformative initiative is Cindy K. Arthur, the Coordinator of Instructional Technology at Carl Sandburg College. She leads the charge in the Virtual Reality Studio, situated within the college's library, which has become a hub of innovation and learning for students and educators alike.

Cindy's primary role is to equip faculty members with tools that align with their teaching objectives. There are many VR tools in the Virtual Reality Studio that span a variety of subjects, including:

• Open Brush: painting in 3D (Art)
• Ovation: public speaking in front of a simulated audience (Speech)
• StarChart: virtual planetarium (Science)
• Viar360: creating immersive experiences through VR
• VR for Good: storytelling experiences that promote empathy and equality (Sociology & Cultural Diversity)

When it comes to communication courses, Ovation stands out as the first option recommended by Cindy. Ovation, a virtual reality public speaking training tool that can be used on a headset or monitor, provides students with an immersive experience to refine their public speaking skills.

Getting Started: VR Facilitation, Usage, and Financial Support

Carl Sandburg College has an instructional technology committee made up of faculty and staff called the Faculty Teaching Learning Center. This committee meets once a month during the school year. This committee has a budget to maintain the learning management system and all the applications faculty and students use. Teachers on this committee make recommendations for future purchases and items to consider. From this input, the committee allocates a portion of the budget towards new technology, which is how Virtual Reality Studio was born.

Cindy started out with one PC-tethered headset that required a tedious room setup and a wheeled cart to transport the headset to workshops and local high schools. An earlier version of Ovation, built for PC-tethered headsets, was the first VR tool she used. During the spring of 2018, two speech classes used Ovation (approximately 18 students in each class). The Committee also reached out to other instructors to encourage them to try it in their classes.

Over the next few semesters, the college expanded its VR arsenal by introducing two Meta Quest headsets and some additional software. The onset of the global pandemic in 2020 paused expansion, but the turning point came in the fall of 2021 when the Carl Sandburg College Foundation offered grants for educational initiatives. Cindy promptly submitted an application for the grant, and her dedication paid off when they secured an award for 18 more Meta Quest 2 headsets.

In 2022 and through 2023, hundreds of students have accessed VR through classes and workshops offered by Carl Sandburg College. 

The Virtual Reality Studio tracks headset usage through a tool called ManageXR. They use scheduling software and place this in a course so students can easily schedule a time to use the headsets. They also hired an additional person to work with Cindy on facilitation. 

Measuring Improvement with Ovation

The impact of Ovation at Carl Sandburg College extends beyond just library/studio use. Faculty members have embraced Ovation to assess students' speaking skills objectively. Ovation is employed at the beginning of the semester to get a baseline of a student’s speaking skills. Then, the students use Ovation throughout the semester to track progress.

“In a classroom, a speech graded by an instructor can feel subjective, making the student defensive. With Ovation, it feels objective. You see the raw data, such as pauses and filler words, and you’re more willing to accept it and grow from it.”

- Cindy K. Arthur, Instructional Technology at Carl Sandburg College

Engaging High School Students in the Community

Carl Sandburg College's commitment to innovation extends to high school students in the community. Students participating in the local high school’s "CEO program" come to the Virtual Reality Studio to use Ovation and practice their product pitches. At the Virtual Reality Studio, they hone their pitching skills while practicing concise and effective presentations that would market their products effectively. 

VR Interviews for Career Development

Carl Sandburg College recognizes the significance of preparing students for their future careers. The Employability Skills Academy at Carl Sandburg College prepares students with skills like teamwork, communication, and interviewing. Practicing for job interviews in virtual reality using Ovation is a crucial part of the program. The immersive, hands-on experience of Ovation equips students with valuable insights into their interview performance, helping them reduce anxiety and build confidence.

“Ovation offers students an immersive platform for interview practice. For example, by revealing the frequency of filler words used, students can actively practice self-correction, enhancing their communication skills to be better in interviews." - Tracy Engstrom, ACRW, Coordinator of Career Development at Carl Sandburg College

International Student Engagement

Carl Sandburg College's international student community has embraced the resources offered at the Virtual Reality Studio. These students, many of whom are learning English as a second language, use Ovation to practice presenting in English within a virtual setting. It's a testament to the versatility of Ovation in catering to diverse educational needs.

“Students whose first language is not English are often self-conscious of their accent and fear that others will not fully understand what they are saying. Ovation is a great resource for international students to improve their public speaking skills because the virtual reality environment gives them the opportunity to practice without worrying about judgment.”

-Veronica Thor, Director of International Student Services

"As an advisor of the International Student Club at Carl Sandburg College, I strongly advocate for using Ovation. It's a safe haven where our international students can freely make mistakes and improve their language proficiency. There's no risk of anxiety or judgment from peers, allowing for a stress-free and supportive learning experience." 

-Kang Hee Hong, Director of Workforce & Community Education

Scalability and Outreach

Cindy Arthur emphasizes the scalability of Ovation, asserting that it can be effectively integrated into various educational domains. The Virtual Reality Studio's reach isn't limited to the college campus; it's part of a broader mission to transform education. As technology continues to evolve, Carl Sandburg College remains at the forefront, leveraging Ovation and virtual reality to enrich the learning experience, boost confidence, and prepare students for the challenges of the future.

Interested in bringing Ovation to your college or university? New organizations can try it free for 30 days. Learn more and book a trial today.