Digital Learning Strategy Forum
Day 1 (November 13, 2024) 

Witness, Reflect, and Heal: Immersive Technology for Social Justice
Presenters: Helen Lee and Junsong Zhang

Addressing social justice issues can be a daunting idea for many. In the past two years, the Centre for Teaching, Learning & Innovation (CTLI) identified and implemented an affordable, accessible, and immersive approach to support social justice issues and sparked meaningful conversations on gender bias and Indigenous people’s experiences in Canada.

In 2023 and 2024, to mark International Women’s Day, CTLI collaborated with students, faculty, and staff to engage in virtual reality (VR) experiences that highlighted conscious and unconscious gender bias. These sessions were followed by reflective exercises, allowing participants to safely debrief and share their thoughts anonymously. This initiative aimed to raise awareness and promote gender equality within the community.

In June 2024, as part of the Indigenous History Month event series, CTLI partnered with the Office of Indigenization to offer a cinematic VR experience that confronted participants with the realities faced by Indigenous people in Canada. Safe and inclusive spaces were provided, followed by optional debriefs with Indigenous Resident Elders. This approach ensured participants could process their strong emotions with care and support, fostering a deeper understanding and commitment to truth and reconciliation.

These VR experiences have created a significant positive impact within the JIBC community. They have not only engaged participants in critical social justice issues but have also garnered attention from senior leadership, emphasizing the institution’s dedication to women’s equality and rights, and promoting meaningful dialogues around truth and reconciliation.

Attachments: Transcript (Word, PDF, Text), Slides (PDF)

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