Collaborative Research: IUSE: EDU: Innovative and Inclusive Undergraduate XR Engineering Education to Cultivate Future Metaverse Workforce

该项目旨在通过建立跨学科的混合现实(XR)工程课程来服务于国家利益，为本科生作为XR专业人员和研究人员的蓬勃发展的职业生涯做好准备。随着美国高等教育机构努力挖掘XR领域的潜力，快速发展的XR技术领域为美国高等教育机构带来了独特的机遇和挑战。该项目旨在推进XR工程教育并促进劳动力发展，通过精心制作的学习材料和活动，使学生能够在不同行业创建XR应用程序，应对社会挑战，并释放创新机会。该项目将采用循证的教学方法，如边做边学和边教边学，同时结合XR技术的最新进展。拟议的课程在设计时考虑到了适应性，使其能够作为新的STEM计划、辅修课程或证书实施，从而扩大参与并加强STEM劳动力发展的机构能力。该课程最初将在肯纳索州立大学和佐治亚州立大学作为试点项目推出，这两所大学都是为少数族裔服务的机构。这项研究将使用定量和定性研究方法进行，包括对现有文献的回顾、调查、专家访谈和与本科生的焦点小组讨论。预期成果包括全面的XR工程课程，丰富的学习材料，以及促进学生参与度和保留率的参与性活动，同时促进女性和少数族裔学生更多地参与STEM。项目成果将传播给其他机构，特别是当地历史悠久的黑人学院和大学，以进一步加强XR教育生态系统，扩大拟议工作的影响。NSF IUSE：EDU计划支持研究和开发项目，以提高所有学生的STEM教育的有效性。通过其参与的学生学习跟踪，该计划支持有前途的实践和工具的创建、探索和实施。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This project aims to serve the national interest by establishing an interdisciplinary mixed reality (XR) Engineering curriculum that prepares undergraduate students for flourishing careers as XR professionals and researchers. The rapidly evolving field of XR technology presents U.S. higher education institutions with a unique combination of opportunities and challenges, as the higher education institutions endeavor to tap into the potential of the XR domain. This project intends to advance XR engineering education and foster workforce development, with crafted learning materials and activities empowering students to create XR applications across diverse industries, tackle societal challenges, and unlock innovative opportunities. The project will employ evidence-based pedagogical approaches, such as learning-by-doing and learning-by-teaching, while integrating recent advances in XR technology. The proposed curriculum is designed with adaptability in mind, enabling its implementation as a new STEM program, minor, or certificate, thereby expanding participation and bolstering institutional capacity for STEM workforce development. The curriculum will initially be launched as a pilot program at Kennesaw State University and Georgia State University, two minority serving institutions. The study will be conducted using both quantitative and qualitative research methods, encompassing a review of existing literature, surveys, expert interviews, and focus group discussions with undergraduate students. Anticipated outcomes encompass a comprehensive XR engineering curriculum, enriched learning materials, and engaging activities that boost student engagement and retention while promoting increased STEM participation among women and minority students. The project results will be disseminated to other institutions, particularly Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the local area to further strengthen the XR education ecosystem and broaden the impacts of the proposed work. The NSF IUSE: EDU Program supports research and development projects to improve the effectiveness of STEM education for all students. Through its Engaged Student Learning track, the program supports the creation, exploration, and implementation of promising practices and tools.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.