FAQ: Create with VR Teacher Training

Purpose of the course

This course is for secondary and post-secondary educators who want to equip their students with the skills and experience that will enable them to be the creators of tomorrow. The course provides training, support, community, and resources for educators to successfully teach virtual reality (VR) development with Unity, the industry-leading interactive design and development tool.

Is this training free?

Yes, this course and all associated resources and materials are entirely free for everyone. You just need an internet connection to access the live sessions and the course materials.

Who can take this course?

This course is open to all educators, teachers, trainers, and anyone who hopes to teach VR development in formal and informal education settings.

What will I learn from this course?

By the end of this course, you will:

Recognize the potential of VR across industries and identify real-world career opportunities for students with these skills.
Gain a foundational knowledge of VR development in Unity by creating your own projects.
Identify best practices and approaches for teaching Unity.
Access resources such as a syllabus, curriculum, and lesson plans to bring VR development into your classroom or program.
Earn a digital badge and certificate of accredited professional learning.

When does this course start and end?

The live portion of this course will start on July 12, 2022 and end on August 4, 2022. The self-paced elements of this course will close on August 31, 2022, giving learners extra time to finish the course projects, submit them, and get feedback.

This training will be repeated beginning Tuesday, September 20, 2022. Live sessions will end October 13, 2022, and learners will have until November 16, 2022, to submit their projects.

I have registered for course dates that no longer suit my schedule. Can I change my course registration dates?

To sign up for dates that align better to your schedule, please resubmit the registration form and select the appropriate dates.

Will this course count towards my professional development hours?

Yes. Upon completing the course, educators will receive a digital badge and certificate for 30 hours of accredited professional learning.

Do I need Unity VR development experience to join this course?

No prior experience developing VR in Unity is necessary, but some familiarity with the Unity Editor will be helpful. If you’re new to Unity, we suggest starting with the Unity Essentials Pathway or the Creator Kit: FPS.

What technical requirements are there for taking this course?

To get set up for the course, please install Unity. The Unity Educator plan provides free access to Unity Pro and other professional tools. It is available for educators at accredited degree-granting institutions and for educators teaching grades 8–12 in the United States. Educators who don’t qualify for this plan can access the free Unity Personal plan.

VR hardware requirements:
A VR headset will enable you to test the projects in this course thoroughly. However, you can still benefit from the learning content if you do not have access to a VR headset. Unity provides a device simulator that allows you to emulate device input actions that normally run on physical VR/AR devices.

What technical requirements are there for teaching Unity?

To set your students up with Unity, you can either (a) apply for free Unity Education Grant licenses, which are best used in a lab or classroom setting, or (b) have students apply for the free Unity Student plan to create individual Unity IDs. This course will cover the different Unity licenses that are commonly used in educational settings.

How do I register for this course?

Registration is only required for the two live sessions each week. You can sign up for every weekly session through the registration form. All other learning content will be open and accessible to everyone.

I’m not able to complete the full course. Can I just join the live sessions?

Absolutely! The content in these live sessions is relevant to any educator and will include insights into VR technology, the possibilities for students, and best practices in education. You can sign up for every weekly session through the registration form.

When will the live sessions be held?

Live sessions for the course start on Tuesday, July 12, 2022. Participants will have the option of joining either an 11:00 am or 5:00 pm Pacific Time (00:00 UTC) live session to suit their schedule.

Live sessions for the first two cohorts will take place during the following dates and times:

Tuesday, July 12, 2022, 11:00 am or 5:00 pm PT
Thursday, July 14, 2022, 11:00 am or 5:00 pm PT (open office hours)
Tuesday, July 19, 2022, 11:00 am or 5:00 pm PT
Thursday, July 21, 2022, 11:00 am or 5:00 pm PT (open office hours)
Tuesday, July 26, 2022, 11:00 am or 5:00 pm PT
Thursday, July 28, 2022, 11:00 am or 5:00 pm PT (open office hours)
Tuesday, August 2, 2022, 11:00 am or 5:00 pm PT
Thursday, August 4, 2022, 11:00 am or 5:00 pm PT (open office hours)

Live sessions for cohorts three and four will take place during the following dates and times:

Tuesday, September 20, 2022, 12:00 pm or 5:00 pm PT
Thursday, September 22, 2022, 12:00 pm or 5:00 pm PT (open office hours)
Tuesday, September 27, 2022, 12:00 pm or 5:00 pm PT
Thursday, September 29, 2022, 12:00 pm or 5:00 pm PT (open office hours)
Tuesday, October 4, 2022, 12:00 pm or 5:00 pm PT
Thursday, October 6, 2022, 12:00 pm or 5:00 pm PT (open office hours)
Tuesday, October 11, 2022, 12:00 pm or 5:00 pm PT
Thursday, October 13, 2022, 12:00 pm or 5:00 pm PT (open office hours)

Will the live sessions be recorded?

Yes. Each live session is recorded and posted to the course within 24 hours.

What is the structure, format, and duration of this course?

The course is a blend of live learning, self-paced tutorials, and projects included in Unity’s new Create with VR course. Each week will consist of:

An hour-long live session each Tuesday at 12:00 pm or 5:00 pm PT. Led by expert educators, VR professionals, and special guests, these sessions include tools, tips, and strategies to bring VR development into the classroom.
~5 hours of self-paced learning and hands-on projects included in Unity’s new Create with VR course.
An open office hour on Thursdays at 12:00 pm or 5:00 pm PT. These sessions offer support for educators with course projects and to answer questions related to teaching VR.

What content will be covered in this course?

Week 1:

Live session focus:

What is virtual reality?
Why teach virtual reality?

Self-paced content:

In this unit, you will set up your computer and your VR headset so that they are ready to begin VR development. In these tutorials, you will:

Install the correct version of Unity, including any required export modules
Configure your device for testing and development, including downloading any additional required software

Week 2:

Live session focus:

Understanding common VR interactions
Motivating students with VR development

Self-paced content:

In this unit, you will learn the basics of setting up a VR project and implementing simple interactivity. In these tutorials, you will:

Set up a VR-ready project with the room of your choice
Implement locomotion so that users can move around the scene
Add grabbable objects users can pick up and throw around
Set up sockets that objects can snap into

In the challenge for this unit, you will apply your skills in an architectural review prototype.

Week 3:

Live session focus:

Project management and project scoping
Dealing with errors

Self-paced content:

In this unit, you will implement more complex interactions in VR to make the experience more immersive. In these tutorials, you will:

Implement audio and haptic feedback
Apply new functionality to specific objects
Allow the user to toggle between multiple types of interactors
Add user interfaces to the world

In the challenge for this unit, you will apply your skills in a 3D painting prototype.

Week 4:

Live session focus:

Publishing VR projects
Planning your VR course

Self-paced content:

In this unit, you will focus on ergonomics and optimization for VR to make your app as accessible and comfortable as possible. In these tutorials, you will:

Improve comfort and accessibility
Evaluate key performance metrics
Implement optimized baked lighting
Configure and build your app for sharing

In the challenge for this unit, you will apply your skills in an industrial training simulation prototype.

This grant opportunity has closed. Thank you for your inquiry.

FAQ: Create with VR Headset Grant

Who can apply for the Create with VR Headset Grant?

This grant is open to secondary and post-secondary schools as well as educational nonprofits that hope to provide students with the necessary skills to learn and create in VR.

This grant applies to institutions located in the U.S.

In compliance with both Unity and Meta Quest’s Terms of Service, schools must serve learners aged 13 and above.

Are there any specific selection criteria that apply to the grant?

All schools (high school and above) and education nonprofits located in the U.S. are eligible to apply. All applicants will be given full consideration, however, not everyone is guaranteed headsets. Devices will be given to schools that demonstrate the following:

Institutions that serve underserved learners in technology¹
Applicants with buy-in from institutional leadership
Institutions that plan to utilize headsets over multiple years with multiple student cohorts
Institutions that are enrolled in Unity’s free 10-week Create with VR training with Unity
Institutions with educator(s) that have the capacity to complete ~30 hours of free accredited professional development provided by Unity

¹Underserved learners in technology: The Meta Immersive Learning Initiative strives to improve technology access to learners/students from historically underrepresented backgrounds, ages 13-24, who receive inequitable resources and may fall into the categories of race, ethnicity, religion, color, sexual orientation, gender, physical & mental disability, economic status, and others. Inequitable resources are defined as lacking equal access to technology in education (i.e. broadband connectivity, academic support, telework participation3 and access to preferred learning styles).

When will applicants find out if they are successful?

Applicants who have applied by the end of May can expect to find out the status of their application by the end of June, ensuring successful applicants have enough time to complete the fulfillment process and receive headsets in time for training in July.

Applicants applying after May will be selected on a rolling basis while headset supplies last. All successful applicants will be informed by the end of August.

If selected, what is the process for receiving headsets?

Successful applicants can expect to receive an email of acceptance with a survey link to begin the fulfillment process. Institutions will be required to provide a business address for shipment and a point of contact for delivery. Please note that devices will not be shipped to an individual’s residential address.

Devices for this program are from Meta Quest’s refurbished program. Recipients can expect devices to arrive in like-new condition, with “Refurbished” markings on the packaging. These devices have been sanitized, factory reset, and repackaged in Meta facilities.

I’m from a region not currently included in the grant. Can I still apply?

While the headset grant only applies to U.S.-based institutions, educators outside the U.S. are still eligible to join our free professional development in July, Create with VR for Educators, by completing the registration form .

If my institution is not accepted, can I still join the free professional development?

Absolutely. This free training is open to all educators, teachers, trainers, and anyone who hopes to teach VR development in formal and informal education settings.

While we recommend the use of a VR headset for testing projects in this course, you can still benefit from the learning content if you do not have access to a VR headset. Unity provides a VR device simulator that allows you to emulate device input actions that normally run on physical VR/AR devices.

When will the free professional development training be held?

The first Create with VR professional development training will start on Tuesday, July 12, 2022, and run for four weeks. Live sessions will be held on Tuesdays and open office hours will be held on Thursdays.

This training will be repeated beginning Tuesday, September 20, 2022, allowing registrants to choose a date that suits their schedule.

For more details on the Create with VR training, see the course FAQ page.

Why do I need institutional leadership buy-in for this grant application?

Headsets will be donated to institutions, not individuals. By submitting an application for the headset grant program, your institution agrees to the Terms of Service outlined regarding the usage of the Meta Quest 2 devices. Applicants selected for a headset grant need to make their organization's leadership aware and coordinate appropriately with IT teams to ensure successful provisioning and setup of the devices.

What will be included with the headset package?

A headset package includes a VR headset, two touch controllers, a charging cable, two AA batteries, a power adapter, and a glasses spacer.

If successful, how many headsets will my institution receive?

Headset allocation is determined by class size on a 2:1 student to headset ratio and capped at 35 units. Please indicate your class size in when completing the grant application form .

If successful, will support be provided for unboxing and onboarding?

Yes. Successful applicants will have multiple opportunities for unboxing/onboarding support. Live onboarding sessions will be held prior to the Create with VR training in July and September. Participants will have the option to join live or watch these on-demand, and resources will also be provided to help set up the hardware in the classroom. Further details will be sent to successful applicants.