{"id":509,"date":"2024-03-15T08:45:37","date_gmt":"2024-03-15T14:45:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wpsites.ucalgary.ca\/serious-games\/?page_id=509"},"modified":"2026-04-30T02:26:12","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T08:26:12","slug":"ivs","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wpsites.ucalgary.ca\/serious-games\/ivs\/","title":{"rendered":"Immersive Virtual School (IVS)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A next-generation virtual learning platform that makes education more interactive, accessible, and engaging &#8211; anywhere in the world.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 &#8211; collaborating with others, exploring virtual environments, and receiving personalized feedback in real time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What IVS Enables<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Immersive Learning<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Personalized Education<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Engaging Experiences<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Accessible by Design<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Students enter fully interactive virtual classrooms where they can move, collaborate, and learn hands-on, similar to a physical classroom, but without location barriers.<\/td><td>AI-driven systems adapt learning experiences based on student behaviour, attention, and progress, creating tailored learning pathways for each individual.<\/td><td>Gamification transforms learning into interactive challenges, increasing motivation, participation, and retention.<\/td><td>IVS incorporates voice interaction, adaptive eye-tracked interfaces, and inclusive design to support learners with diverse needs and abilities.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Featured Projects<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div data-wp-context=\"{ &quot;autoclose&quot;: false, &quot;accordionItems&quot;: [] }\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/accordion\" role=\"group\" class=\"wp-block-accordion is-layout-flow wp-block-accordion-is-layout-flow\">\n<div data-wp-class--is-open=\"state.isOpen\" data-wp-context=\"{ &quot;id&quot;: &quot;accordion-item-1&quot;, &quot;openByDefault&quot;: false }\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.initAccordionItems\" data-wp-on-window--hashchange=\"callbacks.hashChange\" class=\"wp-block-accordion-item is-layout-flow wp-block-accordion-item-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-accordion-heading\"><button aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"accordion-item-1-panel\" data-wp-bind--aria-expanded=\"state.isOpen\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.toggle\" data-wp-on--keydown=\"actions.handleKeyDown\" id=\"accordion-item-1\" type=\"button\" class=\"wp-block-accordion-heading__toggle\"><span class=\"wp-block-accordion-heading__toggle-title\"><strong>AI Virtual Assistant<\/strong><\/span><span class=\"wp-block-accordion-heading__toggle-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\">+<\/span><\/button><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div inert aria-labelledby=\"accordion-item-1\" data-wp-bind--inert=\"!state.isOpen\" id=\"accordion-item-1-panel\" role=\"region\" class=\"wp-block-accordion-panel is-layout-flow wp-block-accordion-panel-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Assist remote learning by providing the student with a helpful partner that adapts to the student&#8217;s preferences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Hannah Ava Sloan, Richard Zhao, Faisal Aqlan, Hui Yang, Rui Zhu.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.18260\/1-2--41234\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Adaptive Virtual Assistant for Virtual Reality-based Remote Learning<\/a>.\u00a0<em>American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference &amp; Exposition (ASEE 2022)<\/em>\u00a0<em>Proceedings<\/em>. Minneapolis, USA, June, 2022. [<a href=\"https:\/\/wpsites.ucalgary.ca\/serious-games\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/136\/2023\/06\/2022asee-virtual-assistant.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Link<\/a>]<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div data-wp-context=\"{ &quot;autoclose&quot;: false, &quot;accordionItems&quot;: [] }\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/accordion\" role=\"group\" class=\"wp-block-accordion is-layout-flow wp-block-accordion-is-layout-flow\">\n<div data-wp-class--is-open=\"state.isOpen\" data-wp-context=\"{ &quot;id&quot;: &quot;accordion-item-2&quot;, &quot;openByDefault&quot;: false }\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.initAccordionItems\" data-wp-on-window--hashchange=\"callbacks.hashChange\" class=\"wp-block-accordion-item is-layout-flow wp-block-accordion-item-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-accordion-heading\"><button aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"accordion-item-2-panel\" data-wp-bind--aria-expanded=\"state.isOpen\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.toggle\" data-wp-on--keydown=\"actions.handleKeyDown\" id=\"accordion-item-2\" type=\"button\" class=\"wp-block-accordion-heading__toggle\"><span class=\"wp-block-accordion-heading__toggle-title\">AI-Based Emotion Recognition in VR Classrooms<\/span><span class=\"wp-block-accordion-heading__toggle-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\">+<\/span><\/button><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div inert aria-labelledby=\"accordion-item-2\" data-wp-bind--inert=\"!state.isOpen\" id=\"accordion-item-2-panel\" role=\"region\" class=\"wp-block-accordion-panel is-layout-flow wp-block-accordion-panel-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A system that detects student engagement and emotional states in real time, even when faces are partially covered by VR headsets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Enables instructors to respond to confusion, disengagement, or frustration in real time<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Michael Shomoye,&nbsp;Richard Zhao.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.cexr.2024.100082\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Automated Emotion Recognition of Students in Virtual Reality Classrooms<\/a>.&nbsp;<em>Computers &amp; Education: X Reality<\/em>. 5:2024, December, 2024. [<a href=\"https:\/\/wpsites.ucalgary.ca\/serious-games\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/136\/2024\/09\/2024xreality-VR_emotion_recognition.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Link<\/a>]<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div data-wp-context=\"{ &quot;autoclose&quot;: false, &quot;accordionItems&quot;: [] }\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/accordion\" role=\"group\" class=\"wp-block-accordion is-layout-flow wp-block-accordion-is-layout-flow\">\n<div data-wp-class--is-open=\"state.isOpen\" data-wp-context=\"{ &quot;id&quot;: &quot;accordion-item-3&quot;, &quot;openByDefault&quot;: false }\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.initAccordionItems\" data-wp-on-window--hashchange=\"callbacks.hashChange\" class=\"wp-block-accordion-item is-layout-flow wp-block-accordion-item-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-accordion-heading\"><button aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"accordion-item-3-panel\" data-wp-bind--aria-expanded=\"state.isOpen\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.toggle\" data-wp-on--keydown=\"actions.handleKeyDown\" id=\"accordion-item-3\" type=\"button\" class=\"wp-block-accordion-heading__toggle\"><span class=\"wp-block-accordion-heading__toggle-title\">Voice-Augmented VR Interfaces<\/span><span class=\"wp-block-accordion-heading__toggle-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\">+<\/span><\/button><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div inert aria-labelledby=\"accordion-item-3\" data-wp-bind--inert=\"!state.isOpen\" id=\"accordion-item-3-panel\" role=\"region\" class=\"wp-block-accordion-panel is-layout-flow wp-block-accordion-panel-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Allows students to interact with complex 3D environments using natural speech instead of controllers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Makes immersive environments easier and more intuitive to use<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Farhan Aslam,\u00a0Richard Zhao. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1109\/CoG60054.2024.10645616\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1109\/CoG60054.2024.10645616\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Voice-Augmented Virtual Reality Interface for Serious Games<\/a>.\u00a0<em>Proceedings of IEEE Conference on Games (CoG)<\/em>, Milan, Italy, August, 2024. [<a href=\"https:\/\/wpsites.ucalgary.ca\/serious-games\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/136\/2024\/05\/2024cog-voice_augmented_VR_interface.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Link<\/a>]<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div data-wp-class--is-open=\"state.isOpen\" data-wp-context=\"{ &quot;id&quot;: &quot;accordion-item-4&quot;, &quot;openByDefault&quot;: false }\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.initAccordionItems\" data-wp-on-window--hashchange=\"callbacks.hashChange\" class=\"wp-block-accordion-item is-layout-flow wp-block-accordion-item-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-accordion-heading\"><button aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"accordion-item-4-panel\" data-wp-bind--aria-expanded=\"state.isOpen\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.toggle\" data-wp-on--keydown=\"actions.handleKeyDown\" id=\"accordion-item-4\" type=\"button\" class=\"wp-block-accordion-heading__toggle\"><span class=\"wp-block-accordion-heading__toggle-title\">Eye-Tracking Learning Interfaces<\/span><span class=\"wp-block-accordion-heading__toggle-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\">+<\/span><\/button><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div inert aria-labelledby=\"accordion-item-4\" data-wp-bind--inert=\"!state.isOpen\" id=\"accordion-item-4-panel\" role=\"region\" class=\"wp-block-accordion-panel is-layout-flow wp-block-accordion-panel-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Captures where students look, how long they focus, and uses this information to provide better interactions for students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Naznin Sharmin Shishir, Richard Zhao. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1145\/3723498.3723695\">Is the Jedi Force Pull Method Effective? Evaluating Eye-Tracked Object Grabbing in VR<\/a>.\u00a0<em>Proceedings of the International Conference on the Foundations of Digital Games (FDG 2025)<\/em>, Graz, Austria, April, 2025. [<a href=\"https:\/\/wpsites.ucalgary.ca\/serious-games\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/136\/2025\/04\/2025fdg-eye_tracked_VR.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Link<\/a>]<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div data-wp-context=\"{ &quot;autoclose&quot;: false, &quot;accordionItems&quot;: [] }\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/accordion\" role=\"group\" class=\"wp-block-accordion is-layout-flow wp-block-accordion-is-layout-flow\">\n<div data-wp-class--is-open=\"state.isOpen\" data-wp-context=\"{ &quot;id&quot;: &quot;accordion-item-5&quot;, &quot;openByDefault&quot;: false }\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.initAccordionItems\" data-wp-on-window--hashchange=\"callbacks.hashChange\" class=\"wp-block-accordion-item is-layout-flow wp-block-accordion-item-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-accordion-heading\"><button aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"accordion-item-5-panel\" data-wp-bind--aria-expanded=\"state.isOpen\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.toggle\" data-wp-on--keydown=\"actions.handleKeyDown\" id=\"accordion-item-5\" type=\"button\" class=\"wp-block-accordion-heading__toggle\"><span class=\"wp-block-accordion-heading__toggle-title\">Collaborative Virtual Learning Environments<\/span><span class=\"wp-block-accordion-heading__toggle-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\">+<\/span><\/button><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div inert aria-labelledby=\"accordion-item-5\" data-wp-bind--inert=\"!state.isOpen\" id=\"accordion-item-5-panel\" role=\"region\" class=\"wp-block-accordion-panel is-layout-flow wp-block-accordion-panel-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Multi-user VR environments where students work together to solve real-world problems, such as engineering tasks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Tyler Hartleb, Haedong Kim, Richard Zhao, Faisal Aqlan, Hui Yang.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.18260\/1-2--43621\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Exploring Magic Interactions for Collaboration in Virtual Reality Learning Factory<\/a>.&nbsp;<em>American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference &amp; Exposition (ASEE 2023)&nbsp;Proceedings<\/em>, Baltimore, USA, June, 2023. [<a href=\"https:\/\/wpsites.ucalgary.ca\/serious-games\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/136\/2023\/06\/2023asee-Magic_Interactions.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Link<\/a>]<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Haedong Kim, Tyler Hartleb, Khalid Bello, Faisal Aqlan,&nbsp;Richard Zhao, Hui Yang.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1115\/1.4063089\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Behavioral Modeling of Collaborative Problem Solving in Multiplayer Virtual Reality Manufacturing Simulation Games<\/a>.&nbsp;<em>Journal of Computing and Information Science in Engineering<\/em>. 2023. [<a href=\"https:\/\/wpsites.ucalgary.ca\/serious-games\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/136\/2023\/08\/2023JCISE-Behavioral_Modeling.pdf\">Link<\/a>]<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Real-World Impact<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Supports remote and rural education<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Enhances learning for students with diverse needs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Enables hands-on training without requiring physical infrastructure<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bridges the gap between classroom learning and real-world applications<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Funded by NSERC Discovery Grant.&nbsp;<em>Immersive Teaching and Learning Environments<\/em>. 2022-2027.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A next-generation virtual learning platform that makes education more interactive, accessible, and engaging &#8211; anywhere in the world. Immersive Virtual School (IVS) reimagines remote education by combining virtual reality (VR), artificial intelligence (AI), and game-based &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":589,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-509","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"featured_image_src":null,"featured_image_src_square":null,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpsites.ucalgary.ca\/serious-games\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/509","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpsites.ucalgary.ca\/serious-games\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpsites.ucalgary.ca\/serious-games\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpsites.ucalgary.ca\/serious-games\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/589"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpsites.ucalgary.ca\/serious-games\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=509"}],"version-history":[{"count":45,"href":"https:\/\/wpsites.ucalgary.ca\/serious-games\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/509\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1268,"href":"https:\/\/wpsites.ucalgary.ca\/serious-games\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/509\/revisions\/1268"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpsites.ucalgary.ca\/serious-games\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=509"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}