Emerging Tools and Applications of Virtual Reality in Education

Virtual reality is the next frontier of communication. As technology exponentially evolves, so do the ways in which humans interact and depend upon it. It only follows that to educate and stimulate the next generation of industry leaders, one must use the most innovative tools available. By coupling education with the most immersive technology available, teachers may inspire students in exciting new ways. Emerging Tools and Applications of Virtual Reality in Education explores the potential and practical uses of virtual reality in classrooms with a focus on pedagogical and instructional outcomes and strategies. This title features current experiments in the use of augmented reality in teaching and highlights the effects it had on students. The authors also illustrate the use of technology in teaching the humanities, as students well-rounded in the fields of technology and communication are covetable in the workforce. This book will inspire educators, administrators, librarians, students of education, and virtual reality software developers to push the limits of their craft.

Dr. Dong Hwa Choi is a teacher, scholar, and researcher who believes that education is a life-long process which requires commitment, self-discipline, and serving others. She has worked in the United States and South Korea focused on teacher preparation, online education, technology integration, and grant-funded projects that serve K-12 teacher candidates. Dr. Choi came to the United States in 1994 from Seoul, South Korea, with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary School Education and a Master of Arts in Educational Psychology, both from Ewha Womans University. A Ph.D. in Early Childhood was earned in 2000 from the University of Missouri-Kanas City. During the following five years, Dr. Choi was an assistant professor at Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana. Dr. Choi has taught at Park University since 2006. Dr. Choi has integrated her international background and experiences into her professional activities including program development and field-based pedagogical practices, and continuously serves professional communities on a national and international level.

Grounded in the belief that education has the power to transform our lives and our society, Amber Dailey- Hebert is an internationally recognized leader in promoting innovation in higher education. Her work directly impacts adult learners as a Full Professor at Park University, and has extended to academic leadership roles as a Department Chair, Program Coordinator, Associate Dean, and as the Founding & Executive Director for the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, which serves over 1600 full and part-time faculty around the world. In addition, Dr. Dailey-Hebert is a prolific researcher and collaborator, publishing multiple textbooks, peer reviewed journal articles, serving as editor of peer reviewed journals, and winning awards for her scholarship and pioneering efforts in problem-based learning and service learning in the online, hybrid & face-to-face environments.

Judi Simmons Estes is an Associate Professor and Associate Dean in the School for Education at Park University. Dr. Estes has a research interest in modeling the integration of technology with instruction within teacher preparation coursework, thus educating teacher candidates how to integrate technology to enhance instruction in K-12 classrooms. Dr. Estes is a certified instructional specialist for e-MINTS (Enhancing Missouris Instructional Network Teaching Strategies).