A next-generation virtual learning platform that makes education more interactive, accessible, and engaging – anywhere in the world.
Immersive Virtual School (IVS) reimagines remote education by combining virtual reality (VR), artificial intelligence (AI), and game-based learning. Instead of passive online lectures, students learn by doing – collaborating with others, exploring virtual environments, and receiving personalized feedback in real time.
What IVS Enables
| Immersive Learning | Personalized Education | Engaging Experiences | Accessible by Design |
| Students enter fully interactive virtual classrooms where they can move, collaborate, and learn hands-on, similar to a physical classroom, but without location barriers. | AI-driven systems adapt learning experiences based on student behaviour, attention, and progress, creating tailored learning pathways for each individual. | Gamification transforms learning into interactive challenges, increasing motivation, participation, and retention. | IVS incorporates voice interaction, adaptive eye-tracked interfaces, and inclusive design to support learners with diverse needs and abilities. |
Featured Projects
Assist remote learning by providing the student with a helpful partner that adapts to the student’s preferences.
- Hannah Ava Sloan, Richard Zhao, Faisal Aqlan, Hui Yang, Rui Zhu. Adaptive Virtual Assistant for Virtual Reality-based Remote Learning. American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition (ASEE 2022) Proceedings. Minneapolis, USA, June, 2022. [Link]
A system that detects student engagement and emotional states in real time, even when faces are partially covered by VR headsets.
- Enables instructors to respond to confusion, disengagement, or frustration in real time
- Michael Shomoye, Richard Zhao. Automated Emotion Recognition of Students in Virtual Reality Classrooms. Computers & Education: X Reality. 5:2024, December, 2024. [Link]
Allows students to interact with complex 3D environments using natural speech instead of controllers.
- Makes immersive environments easier and more intuitive to use
- Farhan Aslam, Richard Zhao. Voice-Augmented Virtual Reality Interface for Serious Games. Proceedings of IEEE Conference on Games (CoG), Milan, Italy, August, 2024. [Link]
Captures where students look, how long they focus, and uses this information to provide better interactions for students.
- Naznin Sharmin Shishir, Richard Zhao. Is the Jedi Force Pull Method Effective? Evaluating Eye-Tracked Object Grabbing in VR. Proceedings of the International Conference on the Foundations of Digital Games (FDG 2025), Graz, Austria, April, 2025. [Link]
Multi-user VR environments where students work together to solve real-world problems, such as engineering tasks.
- Tyler Hartleb, Haedong Kim, Richard Zhao, Faisal Aqlan, Hui Yang. Exploring Magic Interactions for Collaboration in Virtual Reality Learning Factory. American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition (ASEE 2023) Proceedings, Baltimore, USA, June, 2023. [Link]
- Haedong Kim, Tyler Hartleb, Khalid Bello, Faisal Aqlan, Richard Zhao, Hui Yang. Behavioral Modeling of Collaborative Problem Solving in Multiplayer Virtual Reality Manufacturing Simulation Games. Journal of Computing and Information Science in Engineering. 2023. [Link]
Real-World Impact
IVS technologies are designed to expand access to high-quality education and improve learning outcomes across diverse populations. By removing geographic and physical barriers, IVS enables students in remote or underserved communities to participate in immersive, interactive learning experiences.
- Supports remote and rural education
- Enhances learning for students with diverse needs
- Enables hands-on training without requiring physical infrastructure
- Bridges the gap between classroom learning and real-world applications
Funded by NSERC Discovery Grant. Immersive Teaching and Learning Environments. 2022-2027.
