Faculty and researchers from the University of Arkansas led an immersive virtual reality workshop at the recent Black Wall Street HBCU + AI Conference. This event, which took place over two days, aimed to explore the intersections of artificial intelligence, technology, and the future of Black education. The workshop was spearheaded by Chy’Na Nellon, Micheal Hall, and Dr. David Fredrick, who crafted an interactive session focused on Black virtual reality experiences and innovative learning approaches.
Participants engaged with a selection of VR experiences such as “1,000 Cut Journey,” “Traveling While Black,” and “MLK: Now Is the Time,” which were integrated with Nellon’s research on digital storytelling and the ethical portrayal of Black life in virtual spaces. These experiences encouraged students to critically examine narrative perspectives, embodiment, and technology’s role in shaping cultural memory. The workshop highlighted the potential of immersive design to transform learners from passive consumers to active participants in complex social narratives.
For many attendees, this marked their first encounter with VR technology, fostering collaboration between high school and college students from Little Rock and Stillman College. Following the VR sessions, discussions focused on the future of extended reality in education and the potential for students to craft their own community-centered stories using immersive tools. The workshop also facilitated institutional collaboration, with the U of A team connecting with Dr. Hill from Arkansas Baptist College’s new Meta Lab, paving the way for future partnerships.
The research by Nellon, Hall, and Fredrick emphasizes the integration of interactive educational experiences with traditional learning, aiming to equip students with critical thinking, storytelling, collaboration, and digital design skills. On the conference’s second day, Nellon joined a panel discussing the implications of artificial intelligence for communities of color and the evolving role of HBCUs in fostering ethical technological futures.
Through initiatives like this, the University of Arkansas faculty are pushing the boundaries of teaching and research, showcasing how immersive technologies can serve as powerful tools for cultural storytelling, critical inquiry, and community-driven innovation.
