Virtual Reality (VR) has emerged as a powerful tool for fostering empathy through immersive experiences. At the University of Illinois, various courses have integrated VR to enhance students' understanding and emotional connection to diverse perspectives. The Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning (CITL) Innovation Studio hosts numerous course visits each semester where students engage in VR experiences designed to evoke empathy. These visits include immersive—refugee experiences, fashion design projects, interactions around diversity—and storytelling. Research indicates that empathy can be enhanced through experiential learning, learning by doing rather than by merely observing or reading. VR technology takes this concept a step further by placing users in immersive environments where they can actively engage with scenarios that require empathetic responses. These VR experiences not only engage students but also cater to various learning styles, making education accessible and enjoyable for everyone. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, integrating immersive computing, including VR, ensures that students approach the world with an empathetic viewpoint. This session will cover several ways empathy is taught through VR by Illinois faculty at the CITL as well as the types of empathy that have emerged in the collaborations between the faculty and the Center.
