AWE Nite Chicago: The Next Evolution of Education

Immersive technologies like virtual and augmented reality are rapidly transforming education, creating new ways for students to engage with content and practice skills. Arizona State University, for example, has implemented its Dreamscape Learn VR biology program across multiple introductory courses, where students explore intergalactic wildlife sanctuaries and solve scientific challenges that cannot be answered with a simple web search. Early outcomes show that students in these VR-enhanced courses earned higher grades and were more likely to persist in life sciences majors than their peers. Similarly, Austin Peay State University now uses VR to run virtual mock trials, giving criminal justice students a 360-degree courtroom experience, while the University of Pittsburgh integrates VR heart simulations into pharmacy courses to allow hands-on learning of cardiovascular anatomy and treatment effects. According to a 2023 survey of chief technology officers, 14 percent of higher education institutions had made meaningful investments in VR and immersive learning - up seven percentage points from the prior year - a trend reflected in the global market as well. HTF Market Intelligence projects that the virtual reality education market will grow from $8 billion in 2025 to $28 billion by 2032, at a CAGR of 16.5%, underscoring how quickly schools and training centers are embracing the technology.

Beyond subject-specific applications, immersive tools are reshaping broader student experiences and skill-building. At Indiana University Indianapolis, students can check out VR headsets to practice public speaking in simulated auditoriums, press conferences, and interviews, receiving automated performance feedback. Loyola Marymount University incorporates VR into art therapy training, enabling students to create therapeutic virtual environments for clinical practice, while West Virginia University’s Wehrle Global Supply Chain Lab uses VR to immerse students in warehouses, farms, and manufacturing plants. The University of Miami has gone further by building the UMVerse, a digital twin of its Coral Gables campus where new students can explore facilities and complete course assignments in virtual form. Taken together, these innovations highlight how immersive technology supports both academic outcomes and student confidence, giving learners the chance to practice high-stakes skills in low-risk environments and to access experiences - labs, field sites, or even entire campuses - that might otherwise be out of reach. With both institutional adoption rising and the market expanding at double-digit growth rates, immersive learning is poised to become a defining feature of education in the next decade.

Join us November 5th to learn from experts using immersive technologies as an Educational tool.

What's The Format:

We will start with informal networking with demonstrations, then host a panel discussion to answer audience questions, and we end with more networking and demonstrations. We keep it simple and informal – this meetup is about you, our members, and not just a soap box for the host, presenters, or our sponsors. Come and get your questions answered, take your next step in Immersive Technology.

5:30-8:30pm Central

5:30-6:15 PM Networking & Tech Demos

6:15-6:30 PM Welcome Message

6:30-7:10 PM Panelist Presentations

7:10-7:45 PM Panel Discussion with Q&A

7:45-8:30 PM Networking & Tech Demos

Hosts:
Matt Wren - In-Person Host - Founder & CTO of BUNDLAR
Caroline Dennis - Virtual Host - Two-Degrees.io and XRWomen