Stepping into the Future: NLI Showcases Immersive Learning Tools at NC State’s XR Showcase
On Wednesday, April 8, the Natural Learning Initiative (NLI) joined the first-ever Extended Reality (XR) Showcase to demonstrate innovative teaching tools developed through a 2023-2024 DELTA Exploratory grant. Held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the D.H. Hill Library Gaming and VR Studio, the event was hosted by DELTA (Digital Education and Learning Technology Applications) and the NC State University Libraries.
The showcase was designed as an interactive “playground” where faculty and staff could move freely between stations. Participants were encouraged to try immersive technologies firsthand, exploring how virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are reshaping teaching and learning at NC State.
NLI Cofounder Robin Moore & DELTA Vice Provost Donna Petherbridge, PhD discussing the XR showcase.
The NLI team highlighted the Kids Together Playground (KTP) in Cary, NC—a landmark of inclusive, multi-age, recreational design. Originally opened in 2000 and designed by NLI’s Robin Moore, a prime example of universal biophilic design that seamlessly blends manufactured structures with natural biodiversity.
To bring this physical space into the digital classroom, NLI and DELTA developed two primary immersive experiences:
Virtual Interactive Tour (VIT): Built on the Matterport platform, this high-definition scan of the park includes 28 interactive hotspots. Narrated by Robin Moore, the hotspots provide a “walk-through” experience that pairs research data with specific activity settings. The tour also features 360 videos, mobility studies, and accessibility insights conducted by wheelchair users.
Link: https://naturalearning.org/ktp-ivt/
Virtual Interactive Model (VIM): Developed using Three.js, this 3D replica of the toddler area allows users to change architectural design elements in real-time. A unique feature of the VIM is the ability for users to switch their height perspective, simulating how different audiences—from children to adults—interact with the park’s environment.
Link: https://naturalearning.org/wp-content/KTP_Virtual/hd/index.html
Adam Noel (NLI) demonstrates the Kids Together Playground Virtual Interactive Tour (VIT) to campus research colleagues.
These tools serve as a powerful distance learning resource, allowing remote students and policy makers to virtually tour the playground and examine how design impact users within a fully-accessible, inclusive, biophilic urban environment. By putting these technologies directly into the hands of educators, the showcase helped turn abstract questions about XR into tangible possibilities for future courses.
The project was a joint effort between the NLI and DELTA teams.
NLI Team: Robin Moore (NLI Cofounder and PI), Nilda Cosco, PhD (NLI Cofounder), Adam Noel (Media Designer), and Matthew Babb (Media Designer), Matthew Maharaj (Instructional Support).
DELTA Team: Donna Petherbridge, PhD (Vice Provost), Arthur Earnest (Media Specialist), Jakia Salam (Instructional Specialist), and Ben Huckaby (Software Developer).
