Navarro College takes a giant leap into the future of education with the establishment of an XR (Extended Reality) Lab, led by Dr. Anila Das. Dr. Das, a seasoned educator and an expert in XR technology, has spearheaded this initiative to revolutionize learning for students across various programs.
XR, an umbrella term encompassing Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Mixed Reality (MR), promises to seamlessly merge the physical and digital worlds, creating an interactive “digital twin world.” This transformative technology is set to redefine the educational experience for students at Navarro College.
Dr. Das, a graduate of Duncanville High School and attended Cedar Valley College has a diverse academic background, earning her bachelor’s degree of Psychology from UTA. She further pursued her passion for education and technology, obtaining a master’s degree in computer education and cognitive systems from UNT. This summer, she completed her Ph.D. in Learning Technology, focusing on XR Technology, and is the visionary behind the tagline ‘The Power of Immersive Experience’. Her dissertation delved into the development of the XR lab content tailored for the Navarro College Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) program.
Beginning her journey as an adjunct professor at Navarro College in 2009, Dr. Das transitioned to a fulltime role in 2016 and is currently a professor of Computer Information Technology. Inspired by her desire to bring learning to life, especially in the realm of history, Dr. Das embarked on her Ph.D. program in 2021 with a specific focus on XR technology.
“I have always harbored the aspiration to breathe vibrant life into the study of history within middle schools. Robust research consistently reaffirms that immersive experiences don’t just elevate the learning process but also bolster the retention of knowledge. Today’s generation of learners are passionate gamers, and they flourish in an educational environment that immerses them in the subject matter – what we aptly term as immersive language learning experiences within the academic sphere,” Dr. Das explained.
Originally planning to take students on a World War II journey, Dr. Das’ focus shifted when she was invited to be a graduate research assistant. During this time, she directed her attention to using XR technology for space exploration. The next turning point was when Dr. Tara Peters, Executive Director of Workforce, Career and Technical Education at Navarro College, presented the opportunity to establish the XR Lab on the Waxahachie campus with Texas Reskilling and Upskilling through Education (TRUE) grant funds.
Dr. Das, serving as the foremost subject matter expert, played a pivotal role in facilitating a collective understanding of the technology. She collaborated seamlessly with Ms. Dyann Tobar, Program Director for the Emergency Medical Services Department at Navarro College, and the third-party company “From the Future” as they pioneered the development of a groundbreaking Patient Assessment program utilizing XR technology and cutting-edge AI integration. This program has since gained recognition and adoption by other educational institutions.
Dr. Das emphasized the uniqueness of Navarro College’s approach to XR technology: “Our approach to harnessing these cutting-edge devices and technologies is truly exceptional. It is my firm belief that no other college has embraced the AR aspect of XR as comprehensively as we have. While many institutions have primarily focused on VR, often relying on headsets for fully immersive experiences, XR’s versatility opens up a wealth of possibilities. Notably, its remarkable portability enables us to seamlessly extend these enriching experiences to other campuses with unparalleled ease.”
Navarro College is thrilled about the potential of extending classrooms with this cutting edge technology and remains committed to providing unparalleled educational experience for its students.
