Exploring the Role of Virtual Reality in Culturally Responsive Educational Environments: An Implementation Tool Kit and Benson’s SLA Continuum Framework
Benson, Irmina
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Abstract
Virtual Reality (VR) has gained prominence as an emergent technology capable of fostering inclusive, sensorially rich, and pedagogically innovative learning environments. As technological tools rapidly evolve and become more commonplace among secondary and postsecondary learners, educational institutions are increasingly compelled to consider VR's instructional possibilities for varying academic departments. Despite the increasing accessibility and pedagogical potential of VR technologies since their initial exploration in educational settings in the late 1990s, their implementation in secondary and postsecondary curricula remains inconsistent and under-theorized—particularly in Ethnic Studies/Social Sciences education. Although existing literature shows evidence of VR's potential to promote empathy, creativity, engagement, and support for diverse learners, significant gaps persist in culturally responsive frameworks that inform equitable implementation. This project seeks to address these gaps through the development of a VR Implementation Toolkit tailored for Ethnic Studies educators. This toolkit offers culturally responsive instructional strategies, accessibility guidelines, and adaptable models for incorporating VR into Ethnic Studies courses in the humanities and social sciences. By bridging theoretical discourse with applied classroom practice, the project aims to advance immersive, equity-centered educational experiences and expand access to transformative technological tools in culturally sustaining ways.
