ABOUT
The Immersive Learning in Extended Reality (ILXR) Lab is a multidisciplinary platform to explore the possibilities of student-designed immersive digital experiences that drive student success at FIU. Collaborating areas at the University include the Knight Foundation School of Computing and Information Sciences, the Division of Academic and Student Affairs, the Institute of Environment, and the College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts. Housed in FIU’s Tech Station, the lab has been supported by a generous donation from HP.
THE INCLUSIVE CAMPUS OF THE FUTURE CONFERENCE
In December 2022, the (ILXR) Lab hosted one of the first conferences and workshops to explore technology, identity, belonging, learning, work, and community issues. Opened by the FIU Provost and supported by HP, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the FIU Office of Academic and Student Affairs, The College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts, and The Knight Foundation School of Computer and Information Sciences, this event supported reflection upon and informed the future of higher education in light of innovations in XR techn0logies.
12/4/22–12/6/22 @ FIU Tech Station
The Inclusive Campus of the Future: DEI, Extended Reality and Student Success in Minority-Serving Institutions.
Students collaborating in immersive VR in the ILXR
COMMUNITY VR: An immersive 1st year experience.
FIU convened influential thinkers for one of the first conferences/workshops to collectively address this unique group of thought areas in higher education—the combination of which will reshape the future of higher education and technology.
The conference and workshop explored how diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts develop a sense of belonging, and respond to enhanced understandings of identity made possible through new technologies and learning environments.
The conference examined how extended reality (virtual reality, augmented reality, and other digital tools) can reshape higher educational environments and support student acquisition of necessary 21C skills to support their success.
With the United States on the way to becoming a country with the majority of its citizens identifying as being from minority groups by 2045, the conference looked at how equity-serving institutions today can prepare students for future opportunities and growth.
FIU Tech Station
Tag: #FIUInclusiveCampusXR
Conference testimonials
“Just incredible. Brilliant even. I am feeling so energized!”
“So many brilliant ideas. I am excited about using them to inform and improve my classes.”
“It was an amazing and important conference; thank you so much for the invitation, and for allowing me to experience this work.”
“I would welcome an annual convening of this type to continue to build a community of practice and advance the thinking and actions around DEI in technology.”
“This event has helped me do my job better in the [tech] industry by giving me a safe space to listen to the common challenges and understanding new ones outside of our own norms and given me a deeper understanding of how to be more inclusive.”
| Conference Organizers |
Role | Affiliation |
| Biayna Bogosian | Conference co-organizer and moderator | FIU |
| Jennifer Gebelein | Conference co-organizer and moderator | FIU |
| Steve Luis | Conference co-organizer, moderator, and workshop coordinator | FIU |
| John Stuart | Conference co-organizer and moderator | FIU |
| Agenda | FIU Locations Key with links: Tech Station (TS-PG6); MARC Pavilion Conference Hall 290 (MP); Frost Art Museum (FAM) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Dates | Times | Events, intended speakers and panelists (with links), and locations | |
| Where are
we starting? |
Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022 | 5 PM | Conference Registration (MP) |
| 5:15 PM | Stuart Candy, The Thing from the Future 1, (MP) | ||
| 6 PM | Group Dinner (FC) | ||
| 7 PM | Keynote Speaker: Emilia Yang (U Michigan) “XR for Collectivizing Memory in the Search for Justice” (MP) | ||
| Video Archive | Link to Video of Stuart Candy’s Session and Emilia Yang’s Keynote | ||
| Diversity, Equity,
and Inclusion, Extended Reality, and Student Success
|
Monday, Dec. 5, 2022 | Day 1 | |
| 8 AM | Light Breakfast, welcome, introductions (TS-PG6 100W1) | ||
| 9:10 AM | Keynote Speaker: Maya Georgieva (New School) “Story, Code, Ethics and Identity: Designing Inclusion in the Metaverse” (TS-PG6 105) |
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| 10:10 AM | Designing Inclusion panel: Ana Serrano (OCAD), Jason Webb (Syracuse), and Jeff Chen (HP), moderated by Jenn Gebelein (FIU) (TS-PG6 105) | ||
| 12 PM | Lunch (TS-PG6 100W1) | ||
| 1:10 PM | Keynote Speaker: Kylie Peppler (UC Irvine) “Designing XR for Equity and Learning” (TS) |
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| 2:10 PM | Equity and Learning panel 1: Trina Fletcher (FIU), Randall Rode (Yale), and Juan Carlos Zaldivar (IND), moderated by Emmanuele Bowles (FIU) (TS-PG6 105) | ||
| 3:15 PM | Break | ||
| 3:30 PM | Equity and Learning panel 2: micha cárdenas (UCSC), Ana Herruzo (ASU), Emilia Yang (U Michigan), moderated by Biayna Bogosian (FIU) (TS-PG6 105) | ||
| 4:35 PM | Tech Demo with hands-on demonstrations of VR and software (TS) | ||
| 6 PM | Reception at FIU’s Frost Art Museum (FAM) | ||
| 6:35 PM | Group dinner (FAM) | ||
| 7 PM | Keynote Speaker: Martin Stier “Equity and Innovation in the Future of Higher Ed with HP” (HP) (FAM) |
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| Video Archive | Link to Video of Maya Goergieva’s Keynote pt. 1
Link to Video of Maya Georgieva’s Keynote pt. 2 Link to Video of 10:10 AM Design Inclusion Panel Link to Video of Kylie Peppler Keynote and 2:10 PM Equity and Learning Panel Link to Video of 3:30 Equity and Learning Panel 2 and Martin Stier Keynote |
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Where are we going? |
Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022 | Day 2 | |
| 8 AM | Cuban Breakfast Stuart Candy, The Thing from the Future 2 (TS-PG6 105) | ||
| 9 AM | Keynote Speaker: Nafeesa Owens (White House OSTP/NSF) “A More Equitable STEM Ecosystem” (TS-PG6 105) |
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| 10 AM | Equitable ecosystems panel 1: Braulio Colon (Helios), Jackie Skyrd (SPC), and Ted Wells (STEMConnector), moderated by John Stuart (FIU) (TS-PG6 105) | ||
| 11 AM | Equitable ecosystems panel 2: Miguel Alonso (Unity), Jessy Escobedo (Magic Leap), Denise Mendez (Microsoft), and Sultan Sharrief (Quasar Lab), moderated by Shahin Vassigh (FIU) and Steve Luis (FIU) | ||
| 12 PM | End | ||
| Afternoon options | Tours of FIU MMC tech facilities: iSTAR, iCAVE, RDF Lab | ||
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Video Archive |
Link to the video of Tuesday’s Session, Keynote, and Panels | ||
Made possible with Signature Sponsorship from HP
And by a grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation*
And with additional support from the following organizations:
*Conclusions reached or positions taken by researchers or other grantees represent the views of the grantees themselves and not those of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation or its trustees, officers, or staff.