College Access Reimagined: The Promise of Immersive 360 Virtual Reality
Carol Cutler White, Ph.D.Judith Meece, Ph.D
Abstract
The study examines the usability and usefulness of virtual reality (VR) technology as a tool for increasing college access. Students in four rural low-income North Carolina high schools used an immersive 360-degree VR app to tour 16 college campuses in the state. Drawing on a sample of 11th grade rural and low-income participants in the high schools, the study explored students’ experiences with the VR technology through observations, surveys, and focus group interviews. Findings indicated students found the technology user-friendly and useful for learning about college choices. The findings highlight the promise of VR technology for increasing postsecondary aspirations, access, and enrollment and the use of VR technology for college access is especially salient in the COVID-19 era. Further research and implementation is needed to fully understand the benefits and costs of utilizing 360 VR for college access.