Parker University, a leader in healthcare education, announces its partnership with VictoryXR, a leading provider of virtual classrooms and campuses through virtual reality, to create the Parker Metaversity. The Parker Metaversity will be a “digital twin” replica of the Parker University campus in Dallas, Texas. VictoryXR will recreate the University’s campus grounds, building exteriors, and interior student spaces in a hyper-realistic 3D environment. Parker University students can take courses, including labs, in virtual classrooms in the metaversity using virtual reality headsets, such as the Meta Quest 2 or 3, or via desktop access on their personal computers. Remote students can work “hands-on” on projects while interacting with instructors and classmates, which is generally impossible with most LMS systems or Zoom, and other 2D webinar tools. Realistic simulations and explorations of rich, immersive content will be available to remote students to a degree impossible before. Other universities that have created digital twin metaversities have reported increased student engagement, better test scores, and overall greater student achievement compared to both traditional on-campus and online courses.
Partnership with VictoryXR
There are multiple key advantages to Parker University’s partnership with VictoryXR:
- Creating the digital twin Parker Metaversity.
Using hundreds of 3D photographs shot on the grounds and in the buildings of Parker University’s campus, VictoryXR will create a fully immersive 3D space that students, faculty, and administrators will be able to use to conduct classes and labs, provide both formal and informal student meeting spaces, perform research projects, provide campus tours, and more.
- Provide Parker University students and faculty access to the VictoryXR Academy metaversity.
VictoryXR has its existing metaversity campus called the VictoryXR Academy. It is a multiplayer metaversity campus for students and faculty to learn together using VictoryXR’s library of 60+ virtual reality classrooms and 9,000+ 3D assets. The Academy is built on the ENGAGE metaverse platform and is accessible using headsets and desktop apps in the same way that ENGAGE is. Parker University can conduct classes in and provide access to virtual classrooms, labs, auditoriums, etc., to Parker University faculty and registered students as part of this agreement. In addition, Parker University-branded signage will be available in the rooms used by Parker University faculty and students and generally visible only to those who enter the Academy via one of Parker University’s licenses as they use these digital assets. Parker University will purchase annual licenses for students and faculty in select programs to grant them access to the VictoryXR Academy. Initially, Parker University’s blended chiropractic program students will receive these licenses; other programs may be added in the future.
“Parker University is advancing its chiropractic and other healthcare programs through cutting-edge simulation in the metaverse,” said Steve Grubbs, CEO of VictoryXR. “Just as airlines train their pilots in a simulator, Parker University will take the same advanced technology to their students, leading to better-prepared practitioners.”
Dr. William E. Morgan, the President of Parker University, said, “Parker University remains at the forefront of educational innovation, steadfast in our commitment to harnessing pertinent technological advancements to enrich the learning journey of our students. By establishing our own metaversity and the availability of thousands of 3D Virtual Reality assets, we proudly extend an unparalleled and immersive learning experience. This extraordinary platform will undoubtedly continue our commitment to innovation in teaching and learning.”
Availability
The Parker Metaversity is expected to be completed in December. Parker University students in the chiropractic blended program will have access to the VictoryXR Academy in 2024.
VictoryXR
VictoryXR is the world leader in providing immersive educational experiences. Our Triple Play offers students the opportunity to dive into mess-free science experiments, historical moments in time, explore literature immersively, and so much more. Available in VR, on a PC, Mac, or Chromebook, our offerings meet the needs of students from middle school up.
About Parker University
Parker University, the fourth-fastest growing college in Texas and the fastest-growing college in Dallas, was founded in 1982 by Dr. James William Parker (formerly Parker College of Chiropractic). Today, Parker University has more than 2,100 students and more than 35 academic programs, including its famed chiropractic program, as well as master’s degrees in clinical neuroscience, strength and human performance, and functional nutrition. Currently, Parker University’s chiropractic cohort is the second largest of any campus in the world. Parker University has been recognized as an Honor Roll Institution by Great Colleges to Work For®, one of the 25 Fastest-Growing Colleges in the U.S., as a recipient of the FutureEdge 50 Awards, and as a Best Texas Online College of 2023 by Forbes. For more information about Parker University, call 1-800-637-8337 or visit parker.edu.
