image: VERA enables immersive researchers to design, deploy, and manage virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) studies with remote participants.
Credit: University of Central Florida, Institute of Simulation & Training
San José State University School of Information Library Technology Integration Lab in Silicon Valley and New Media Learning, one of the largest providers of virtual reality programming in public libraries, have received funding to examine how immersive technologies engage learners to improve learning and information engagement in education, cultural institutions and more.
The groundbreaking VR research project was selected as the first use grant recipient from the Virtual Experience Research Accelerator (VERA), a prestigious National Science Foundation-funded initiative led by the University of Central Florida that is developing next-generation infrastructure to enable researchers to conduct large-scale human-subjects research in virtual and augmented reality environments. The collaboration represents an important milestone in expanding immersive learning and information science research nationwide.
The research project will establish a Unity-based immersive information behavior testbed, integrated with VERA, with participants from across the U.S. in public libraries, universities and other sites.
Researchers will collect behavioral and interaction data including attention patterns, object interaction, navigation pathways, movement, clicks, engagement metrics, and time-on-task, supplemented by surveys and participant feedback.
The initial pilot will utilize the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as a thematic framework, allowing researchers to study how immersive technologies can support public education, information engagement, and learning.
Future research may expand into areas such as digital literacy, workforce development, cultural heritage preservation, public health communication, museum learning experiences, and AI-assisted immersive learning environments.
The project also aligns with broader efforts to explore how libraries and educational institutions can leverage emerging technologies to address complex societal challenges.
New Media Learning will serve as a collaborative development, hosting, and dissemination partner.
The research environment will serve as a scalable prototype to make immersive learning experiences more accessible for communities worldwide.
A distinguishing feature of the project is the active involvement of San José State University undergraduate and graduate students who will work alongside faculty researchers and technology partners to gain hands-on experience.
The project will serve as a living laboratory that prepares the next generation of information professionals while contributing directly to National Science Foundation-supported research.
“Being selected as the first VERA use grant recipient is both an honor and an extraordinary opportunity,” says Anthony S. Chow, professor in the San José State University School of Information and founder of the award-winning Library Technology Integration Lab. “The National Science Foundation’s investment in VERA creates a powerful platform for understanding how immersive technologies influence learning, engagement, and information behavior. Through this collaboration, we aim to generate research that helps libraries, educators, museums, and community organizations leverage virtual reality to address important societal challenges while creating meaningful opportunities for students.”
“We are excited to welcome San José State University and New Media Learning as the first recipients of a VERA Use Grant,” says Gregory Welch, the lead principal investigator on VERA at the University of Central Florida. “Their expertise in libraries, immersive learning, public engagement, and emerging technologies makes them an ideal partners to demonstrate how VERA can accelerate impactful XR research. We believe this collaboration will help establish new models for studying learning, engagement, and information behavior in immersive environments.”
Beyond advancing immersive information behavior research, the collaboration also creates meaningful workforce development opportunities for students and demonstrates how universities, libraries, and technology partners can work together to prepare future professionals for careers at the intersection of information science, artificial intelligence, user experience research, immersive technologies, and digital learning.
ABOUT VERA
Supported by five collaborative grants from the U.S. National Science Foundation, the Virtual Experience Research Accelerator (VERA) project is developing a human-machine system to enable large-scale human-subjects research in extended reality (XR), including virtual reality and augmented reality. VERA aims to achieve unprecedented scale, speed, and rigor in XR experimentation while fostering a collaborative community of researchers advancing immersive technologies.
ABOUT THE SAN JOSÉ STATE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF INFORMATION
The San José State University School of Information is a global leader in online information education and home to one of the largest graduate programs in library and information science in the world. Through innovative teaching, research, and community engagement, the school prepares information professionals to lead and serve in libraries, archives, museums, technology organizations, and information-centered environments worldwide.
ABOUT THE LIBRARY TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION LAB
The award-winning Library Technology Integration (LTI) Lab at the San José State University School of Information is dedicated to exploring how emerging technologies can enhance learning, engagement, access, preservation, and innovation in libraries and educational settings. Through applied research, community partnerships, and experiential learning opportunities, the LTI Lab supports the integration of artificial intelligence, virtual reality, extended reality (XR), robotics, drones, digital literacy, and immersive learning technologies into information environments.
ABOUT NEW MEDIA LEARNING
Founded by educator, technologist, and immersive learning pioneer John MacLeod, New Media Learning provides effective and powerful ways to integrate extended reality (XR) technologies into schools, libraries, museums, and community learning environments. Under his leadership, New Media Learning has become one of the largest providers of virtual reality programming in public libraries, deploying more than 200 virtual reality systems across California and Nevada and supporting thousands of learners through immersive educational experiences.
Method of Research
Experimental study
Subject of Research
People