Bringing the Laboratory to Our Trailblazers’ Homes: Utah Tech Uses Virtual Reality to Transform Online Learning

Have you ever wanted to escape reality and step into another world? Imagine being able to explore a laboratory, conduct an experiment, or work alongside our classmates, all without actually being there in person. That may sound like something out of a video game, but for us Trailblazers, this could become a new classroom experience.

Before becoming Trailblazers here at Utah Tech, many of us probably imagined what our futures would look like. Now, technology is giving us a chance to experience something we may not have imagined: a virtual learning environment that makes us feel as if we are in the classroom.

For those of us taking online science courses, virtual reality could mean stepping into a virtual laboratory, interacting with equipment, conducting experiments, and collaborating with our classmates in real time. Instead of simply reading about an experiment or watching someone else do it, we could actually participate. This creates an opportunity to make hands-on learning more accessible, engaging, and safe for those of us who may not be able to attend a laboratory in person.

Nearly $400,000 to Explore the Future of Online STEM Learning

Utah Tech University has received nearly $400,000 from the National Science Foundation (NSF) through its Improving Undergraduate STEM Education (IUSE) program to explore how immersive virtual reality can transform the way we learn in fully online STEM courses.

With $399,999 in funding, Utah Tech will support a three-year project focused on creating and evaluating new virtual reality learning experiences for online biology and geography students. The project, officially titled “The Effectiveness of Immersive Virtual Reality (iVR) Learning Activities on Student Learning Outcomes and Engagement in Undergraduate STEM Courses,” will examine whether these immersive experiences can help us stay engaged, better understand course material, and apply what we learn.

The project is led by Dr. Xin Wang of UT Online, along with co-investigators Jordan Ellsworth of UT Online, Dr. Zhenyu Jin, chair of the Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences, and Dr. Erin O’Brien, professor of biology and director of Community Engaged Learning.

Together, the team will develop six immersive virtual reality learning activities for online biology and geography courses. These virtual labs will allow us to explore, experiment, and collaborate in new ways that can be difficult to recreate in a traditional online classroom.

Many of us appreciate the flexibility that comes with online learning. We can balance school with work, family, and other responsibilities, and some of us may even live outside of Utah. This is where VR can bridge the gap and make a difference for our Trailblazers.

“Virtual reality is a great way for students to engage in hands-on, active learning. It may also pave the way for what learning looks like in the future, and for Utah Tech to be part of that is truly special,” said Jordan Ellsworth.

For those of us studying biology, VR could also make complex concepts easier to understand.

“Some of the hardest concepts in biology involve processes students cannot see. Virtual reality will let students explore these processes firsthand and better understand how they shape living things,” said Dr. Erin O’Brien, professor of biology and director of Community Engaged Learning.

By bringing interactive experiences into our online courses, this project aims to give us more opportunities for hands-on learning, no matter where we are.

Dr. Xin Wang, the principal investigator on this grant, believes this project is about more than simply adding new technology to an online course. It is about finding better ways for us to learn.

“This grant will help us bring virtual reality into existing online biology and geography courses at Utah Tech. To support our University’s polytechnic mission and provide hands-on learning in online courses, students will be able to step into immersive, interactive experiences where they can explore, practice, and learn alongside others. We’re excited to see how these experiences can support more effective online STEM learning at Utah Tech and beyond,” said Dr. Xin Wang.

Through this project, the team hopes to better understand how immersive technology can help us learn new skills, stay engaged, and remember what we have learned. This research could also provide insights that other universities can build on in the future.

The project will build on previous research that showed learning outcomes comparable to traditional in-person labs while giving students greater flexibility in how and where they learned.

For us Trailblazers, the future of STEM learning may be nearer than we think, and it could be happening in virtual reality.

Beyond improving our online classroom experience, this project supports Utah Tech University’s polytechnic mission by connecting education, technology, and workforce preparation.

“In my Physical Geography course, students learn about landscapes, natural processes such as plate tectonics, and environments that can be difficult to experience fully online. Through this NSF-funded project, we will use immersive virtual reality to give students a more interactive and experiential way to explore these geographic environments and processes,” said Zhenyu Jin.

As part of this project, undergraduate students studying fields such as computer science, information technology, and 3D animation will have opportunities to gain hands-on experience developing VR learning environments. This means our students can become both users and creators of virtual reality technology.

“Our goal is to make online STEM courses more engaging and help students remember what they learn and apply it in real-world situations,” said Dr. Xin Wang.

The research team will also partner with local schools and educators to expand access to immersive STEM learning experiences. In addition, the team plans to develop open educational resources and share VR tools and best practices with institutions across the country, helping extend these opportunities beyond our campus.

As technology continues to change how we learn, think, and work, Utah Tech’s NSF-funded project offers us an opportunity to explore what the future of online STEM education could look like.

Rather than limiting hands-on learning to those who can physically be in a laboratory or classroom, immersive virtual reality could help bring these experiences to us wherever we are.

Through this project, our researchers and fellow students are exploring how technology can make STEM education more interactive, accessible, and engaging while preparing the next generation of Trailblazers to help shape the technologies of the future.