#1272: Resonate: An Interactive VR Tool for Experiencing Inclusive Education Through the Student Perspective

Resonate is a virtual reality (VR) design tool developed to enhance educators’ understanding and implementation of inclusive teaching practices. By enabling educators to experience classroom environments from the perspective of students with disabilities, Resonate bridges critical gaps in teacher preparation and professional development. Leveraging immersive VR technology, the tool extends beyond traditional disability awareness training by fostering structured observation and authentic, experience-based empathy. Distinct from generic simulations, Resonate supports contextualized instructional reflection by allowing educators to test their own teaching materials within simulated disability scenarios. Grounded in Kolb’s experiential learning theory and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles, the tool supports customizable parameter configuration, dynamic content integration, and in-situ annotation. This paper describes Resonate’s features, applications, and contributions to learning sciences research, aiming to support educators in moving toward more actionable inclusive practices.