XR and the Humanities: Virtual Education in the Twenty-First Century
Due Date: 10-15-2021
We are developing an edited volume of the latest in XR (virtual, augmented, and mixed reality) and other interactive technologies being used for liberal arts education, specifically in the humanities. Although these relatively nascent technologies have been applied most visibly in the STEM fields, we seek to show through this volume that the technological divide between sciences and the humanities is not as wide as many believe. Many academics and researchers working in the humanities often use these kinds of technologies, even though they are not generally accepted tools for research and teaching in their respective fields. Recent creations involving various humanities disciplines include digital reconstructions of ancient and medieval environments, archaeological and anthropological projects that seek to digitize material artifacts, language acquisition projects for both modern and ancient languages, and more. XR technologies offer unique opportunities for research, teaching and learning.
Possible Questions and Angles of Approach:
-With technology taking a larger role in the classroom, what role does XR technology play in the development of humanities education in the twenty-first century, and vice versa?
-What discoveries have been found by exploring XR technology in the classroom?
-How do projects involving XR technology offer opportunities for faculty-student collaboration or interdisciplinary collaboration?
-How can XR technology help to advance modes of research in various humanities disciplines?
We welcome other approaches in addition to these questions. If you think your ideas may fit this volume but don’t fit those exact criteria, please feel free to submit.
Eventual contributions would include how you conceived of the project; any relevant background from the standpoint of education or humanities education; how the work got done; how you used the builds in your courses or research; case studies, user studies, or student responses; and where you think things are heading, more generally or more specifically to you.
Please submit 500-word abstracts by 15 October 2021 at 11:59 p.m. PT to Brian Beams (beams@stanford.edu) and Lissa Crofton-Sleigh (ejcroftonsleigh@scu.edu) with the subject line “XR Edited Volume Proposal.” For more information, visit https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zbfcrBfbgrbSk_tCYIoWQxlMO2iTKHI2vMHy-lOZMr8/edit.