Agriscience Metaverse Academy (AMA)
July 29 - August 2
The AMA is a Virtual Reality Training Program to Bring Immersive Agricultural Experiences into the Classroom! A one-year, USDA NIFA-funded professional development program will help teachers improve their knowledge of virtual reality (VR) technology and Metaverse applications, for educational settings. Agriculture teachers in Nebraska and Tennessee with at least one year of teaching experience by June 2024 who will be teaching agriculture courses at the middle school or high school levels during the 2024-2025 school year are eligible to apply. Participating teachers must have suitable Wi-Fi access in their classrooms (at least 25 Mbps download speed).
Participating teachers will attend a five-day in-person professional development workshop focused on implementing Immersive Agricultural Experiences into the classes they teach. Additionally, three Metaverse-based training and support meetings will hosted for participants throughout the year, which will be accessed via virtual reality headsets provided as part of the program.
Participating teachers can receive up to $700 in stipends to support time and active participation. Each teacher will receive a Virtual Reality Lab Kit for their school consisting of 11 MetaQuest 2 VR headsets and a 360º GoPro camera that they will be able to keep after completion of the program. The project will cover travel expenses and lodging for the five-day professional development.
To apply for participation in the professional development and research study, complete the application at this link: https://forms.gle/Njh8BNEwPJ1n1MYA6
