Virtual reality: Classroom tool or classroom fool?

Abstract

In March of 2019 Macalester College’s Center for Scholarship and Teaching purchased a computer and headset for a Virtual Reality Cart. The purpose of the cart is to provide the instructional support staff a resource for learning more about VR as well as eventually facilitating projects in classroom spaces for faculty without the resources to purchase their own VR systems. Using an HTC Vive Pro and an Alienware Aurora Desktop computer, the cart was assembled and the aforementioned staff had the summer to learn and prepare for designing systems that took advantage of the hardware.