A virtual conference from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Aug. 7 will examine what organizers call the “great potential and challenges” of using XR—a catch-all term that includes augmented and virtual reality as well as related technologies for spatial and pervasive computing—in the classroom under pandemic conditions.

The event will describe how XR can mitigate the challenges of engaging with students and collaborators remotely, and explore opportunities to apply the technology in online, in-person, and hybrid classes. Educators from across the disciplines will give more than two dozen short talks about existing projects, best practices, and instructional design strategies. The lunchtime session will include project demonstrations for small groups of participants in online meeting rooms.

Beyond Zoom: XR for Teaching and Research in the COVID-19 Era is being hosted by Dartmouth’s Information, Technology, and Consulting Division, the Neukom Institute for Computational Science, and the Department of Film and Media Studies, with partners from the University of Pennsylvania. It’s sponsored by Dartmouth COVID-19 Spark funding and the Dartmouth Center for the Advancement of Learning’s Experiential Learning Initiative, with support from the University of Pennsylvania.

For more information, go to the conference webpage. Registration will close at noon on Aug. 5.