Latest education updates from around the world
These XR Glasses Want to Be the Monitor You Wear All Day – Kickstarter Coming August 4th
Unseen Reality announced its upcoming display-replacing XR glasses, URXR One, is set to launch a Kickstarter on August 4th.
URXR are essentially made for users specifically looking for a display replacement. Focused on displaying traditional content, like flatscreen games, film and spreadsheets, the MR glasses boast long-term user comfort thanks to 6DOF and 3DOF modes, the former of which is handled by a dual-camera SLAM tracking system.
Weighing in at 93g, URXR One is a pair of of lightweight mixed reality glasses built around mini pancake optics, which […]
Snap to Show In-depth Look at ‘Specs’ AR Glasses in September Event
Snap announced it’s hosting an event dedicated to Specs, the company’s next-gen AR glasses, on September 16th in Los Angeles, California.
At the event, Snap co-founder and CEO Evan Spiegel is said to share “the first in-depth look at SPECS, demonstrating how they bring AI assistance, work tools, entertainment, and shared experiences into the world around us, helping people create, connect, learn, and get things done while staying present,” the company says.
While the company characterizes […]
Thoughtfully Leveraging AI To Improve Learning Outcomes, Efficiency, And More
For Matt Kuhn, Chief Technology Officer for Volusia County Schools in Florida, artificial intelligence has been around longer than most folks realize.
“The first AI was really Clippy way back in the day, right?” Kuhn says. “In the 90s when Clippy would jump on your screen and kind of annoy you a little bit, but it was gathering feedback from you and then differentiating what it told you next […]
Steam Frame Launch Looks Imminent Following FCC Certification
The launch of Steam Frame has grown tantalizing close following the publication of documents from the FCC showing the headset has cleared required regulatory certification.
We still don’t have an exact release date for Steam Frame, but now we know it’s one huge step closer to actually launching: regulatory documentation and approvals from the FCC were published in the last 24 hours.
The FCC is tasked with certifying products with electromagnetic emissions to be safe and compatible with regulations. Products utilizing radio, WiFi, infrared, etc. need certification before […]
SideQuest is Reviving Microsoft’s Social VR Platform ‘Altspace’ This Fall
The team behind SideQuest, Quest’s alternative app library, announced it’s bringing Microsoft’s social VR platform AltspaceVR (2015) back from the dead.
The News
Initially released in 2015 and then acquired by 2017 by Microsoft, Altspace was one of the first successful social VR platforms, launching across PC VR headsets, Samsung Gear VR, Oculus Go, and both Quest and Quest 2.
In early 2023 however, Microsoft announced it was shuttering Altspace in a bid to shuttle resources to its cloud-based mixed reality collaboration platform, Microsoft Mesh, which was subsequently […]
What is CK-12 and How Can Teachers Use It?
While researching my recently updated article, Best Sites for Blended Learning, I came upon CK-12, a remarkable, new-to-me teaching platform that provides a varied and robust set of digital textbooks, AI-powered digital tools, teacher agents, simulations, and more.
CK-12 is the brainchild of the nonprofit CK-12 foundation, whose mission is to provide free access to high-quality, customizable educational content in multiple modalities, suited to multiple student learning styles, levels, and resources. Even better, all tools and features of CK-12 are fully free to educators, students, and families.
What is CK-12?
CK-12 is a […]
‘VRChat’ Competitor ‘Somnium Space’ Releases Biggest Update Yet Ahead of Return to Steam
Social VR platform Somnium Space is rolling out its biggest update yet, which aims to bring major improvements across the entire platform ahead of its planned release on Steam Frame and Apple Vision Pro.
The News
Somnium Space’s v3.1.6 update is slated to rollout today, bringing to the social VR platform a number of quality of life features that could put it more on par with its main competitor, VRChat.
Arguably the most important feature to the update is how it handles World Instances, which now supports a wider degree of […]
Meta’s First Thin & Light VR Headset Reportedly Appears in User Setup Video Ahead of Connect
A user setup video has reportedly surfaced of Meta’s long-rumored thin and light VR headset, suggesting we may see its official unveiling at Connect in September.
The News
The images below reveal a blurry look at what is unmistakably Meta’s upcoming puck-tethered VR headset, which has been referred by number of internal codenames over the years: Puffin, Loma, and now Phoenix.
Tips For Finding and Keeping Talent: A Conversation with Nate Lichte
We talk with Nate Lichte, VP of K-12 Solutions and COO of Lebra, about the challenges of retaining top talents in school leadership and the classroom. You can enjoy engaging insights into these important topics during Lichte’s presentation at the upcoming EdExec Summit, taking place September 10-11 in Chicago.
“I’ve always had a passion for leadership,” Nate Lichte says. “My mom was an eighth grade teacher. Growing up I didn’t get the traditional bedtime superheroes […]
Qualcomm is Reportedly Raising Chip Prices and Steam Frame Could Feel the Impact
Besides being the world’s biggest smartphone chipmaker, Qualcomm is also the number one supplier of processors for nearly all standalone VR headsets on the market today. According to a Bloomberg report, those chips could be getting a lot more expensive.
The News
According to email seen by Bloomberg sent to customer on Friday, Qualcomm is slated to raise chip prices by a percentage in the double digits, set to take effect September 1st, 2026.
Qualcomm explained in the letter that, despite its best efforts to secure alternative components from […]
Neo vs. Chromebook: The Ultimate Classroom Bake-Off
Technology moves at such a rapid pace, it’s hard to keep up with the changes as a school leader. Since publishing my first article (“Did Apple Finally Find Its Chromebook Killer?”) (just a month ago), Apple quietly increased the education price of the Neo by $100. That changes part of this conversation as at $499, the Neo was an intriguing disruption. At $599, districts will rightly ask much harder questions about return on investment. However, like I said in the previous article, this isn’t just about the price. It’s about value over time.
Now that […]
Immersed Says It’s Finally Getting Ready to Ship ‘Visor’ VR Headset
XR startup Immersed announced it’s nearing launch of its long-promised work-focused standalone VR headset, Visor.
The News
Immersed sent out an email (courtesy Reddit user ‘aline-works’) to pre-order customers over the weekend announcing that the company is locking in shipping timelines.
Next month, the company says we can expect an update that will “cover where we are on the production ramp and what to expect next for your pre-order.”
The company says that due to the global component crisis, which has seen RAM and storage skyrocket in price, […]
Apple’s First Smart Glasses Reportedly Set to Unveil at WWDC 2027, Release in Late 2027
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is set to unveil its first pair of smart glasses at next year’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC).
The News
Codenamed ‘N50’, Apple’s smart glasses were reportedly meant for a late 2026 reveal, with launch targeting early 2027. Now Gurman maintains that WWDC, which is set to take place in June 2027, won’t be the device’s actual launch day; consumer release is expected sometime by the end of 2027.
The delay is said to essentially be a two-fold issue, centered on both refining […]
What is LIFT and How Can I Use It To Teach?
Reading difficulties don’t disappear when students reach middle or high school, but the resources available to help them often lag behind. Many literacy intervention programs are designed for early elementary learners, leaving older students to practice reading with books that feel childish or disconnected from their interests. That mismatch can make reluctant readers even less willing to engage, creating another barrier to improving literacy skills.
Storyshares’ LIFT offers structured, evidence-based instruction that supports decoding, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension, with materials that respect students’ age and encourage them to keep reading.
The Literacy Intervention For Teens (LIFT) program was developed for […]
Helping Students Explore Space And The World Beyond Their Classrooms
Collaboration is a hallmark of many of NASA’s endeavors. In 2020, NASA and the Department of State joined with seven other founding nations to establish the Artemis Accords, introducing the first set of practical principles aimed at enhancing the safety and coordination between like-minded nations as they explore the Moon, Mars, and beyond. A few days ago, the 70th nation joined the accord.
“When we brainstorm in the classroom, you’re in a bubble,” says educator and NASA Solar System Ambassador Tim Needles of Smithtown School District in New York. “In some of these programs, much […]
Roguelite Shooter ‘Roboquest’ Comes to Quest Alongside Co-op Update
Flat2VR Studios has finally brought its VR adapatation of Roboquest (2023) to Quest 3 and 3S, which also brings to the fast-paced roguelite shooter its long-awaited co-op mode.
The new two-player co-op mode is now live, featuring full cross-play between all supported VR platforms, including both SteamVR and PSVR 2 versions.
This includes Quickplay matches as well as private matches, which require a room code—a practical necessity since friends lists aren’t shared across ecosystems.
Initially launched as a flatscreen-only game […]
Why Humans Still Own Writing: A Lesson For School Communities
I was writing a speech for an end-of-the-year ceremony recognizing my students moving up to their next school. It’s one of many speeches, announcements, recommendation letters, and notifications I compose on any given day.
I entered a quote I had written into an AI prompt with instructions to produce a concise, inspiring speech for my fourth graders moving up based on it. I was impressed with the output: It was well structured, followed my conventions, and did a decent organizational job. Yet, it was missing the most important aspect, something I call “personification.”
The biggest mistake users make […]
Samsung Unveils More Smart Glasses Designs from Gentle Monster & Warby Parker Ahead of Fall Release
Samsung today teased a new slate of smart glasses designs, which includes two new frames from eyewear partners Gentle Monster and Warby Parker.
The News
When Samsung and Google finally unveiled their jointly-developed smart glasses at Google I/O in May, US-based Warby Parker and South Korean eyewear brand Gentle Monster showed off their initial designs, seen below.
At the time, Gentle Monster’s initial ‘cat eye’ design seemed to fill […]
Tech & Learning Launches “Best for Back to School” Contest
With the 2026-27 school year approaching, Tech & Learning is back with the “Awards of Excellence: Back to School” to help readers find the most impressive products and solutions that will support their work in any learning environment.
Tech & Learning is seeking nominations for products that offer schools versatility, value, and solutions to specific problems to support innovative, effective teaching and learning. From security solutions to hardware, software, and non-tech instructional materials, this award recognizes both new and legacy technology that support effective teaching and learning practices in the new school year.
**NEW […]
Xbox Game Pass Now Included with Quest’s Horizon+, Gamepad Emulation Coming Soon
Meta announced it’s partnering with Microsoft to bring a “starter edition” of its cloud-based XBOX Game Pass to Horizon+, Meta’s own VR game subscription service. In the coming weeks, Meta also says it’s pushing out Xbox gamepad emulation for Quest’s Touch controllers too.
The News
The new Xbox Game Pass addition brings a library of 50+ non-VR games to Horizon+, allowing users to play titles such as Fallout 4, Fallout 76, Overcooked 2, Grounded, DayZ, Deep Rock Galactic and more. That essentially adds 50 percent more games to the service’s current library […]
Reader Feedback Wanted: Thoughts on Our New Article Format
We at Road to VR have been asking ourselves: how do we offer the most value to our readers? That question led to an experiment over the last few months that changed the way we structured each article, with the goal of making them more useful to you. Now, we’d like to hear your thoughts.
From the very beginning of Road to VR, our goal has always been to give the audience enough context in any given article that they would walk away understanding both the what and the why […]
Taking Flight: Getting A Middle School Aerospace Program Off The Ground
Franklin Special District (FSD) is the only district in Tennessee to offer aerospace as a high school credit course to 8th graders. It has no entry requirements, making this CTE opportunity attainable for every student.
“We were hopeful that the students would connect with the subject and find it interesting, but they’ve really taken to it beyond my wildest dreams,” says Mary Decker, Associate Director of Schools for Teaching & Learning at FSD, who developed and leads the district’s aerospace program. “We have quite a few students who are now pursuing a career in aerospace. Many of them […]
Gentle Monster Plans Massive North America & Europe Retail Expansion Amid Smart Glasses Rollout
South Korean eyewear brand Gentle Monster is set to launch its first pair of smart glasses this fall, and it’s hoping to make waves with a rash of new physical retail locations across North America and Europe.
The News
As reported by Maeil Business Newspaper, Gentle Monster is set to dramatically increase its overseas stores within the next five years. While Gentle Monster currently operates a total of 86 stores globally, 36 of which are in Korea, the Seoul-based company aims to open 10 more non-Korean locations by […]
From Pitch to Partnership: A New Playbook for Marketing to School Districts
The insights from a recent Ed-Tech Leadership Collective Briefing paint a clear picture: the traditional playbook for marketing to school districts is obsolete. Today’s educational leaders are navigating a perfect storm of tightening budgets, expiring stimulus funds, and an unprecedented volume of vendor outreach.
The Briefing, co-hosted by Tech & Learning, featured two speakers from T&L’s EdExec Summit, taking place in Chicago on September 10-11. The discussion offered a sneak peek into the kinds of conversations expected to take place at this event for education executives.
Collin Earnst, Founder and Managing Partner at the Ed-tech […]
Magic Leap Cuts Nearly 200 Jobs as AR Pioneer Pivots Into Waveguide Supplier
AR unicorn Magic Leap is again pivoting its core business, this time to serve as a waveguide supplier to other companies making AR glasses, something that we’ve learned comes amid a mass lay off nearly 200 of its core engineering and product development staff.
According to a formal WARN Act notification letter to US government officials last week, the company is set to lay off 193 employees at the company’s Plantation, Florida headquarters.
A wide range of product development and engineering roles are set to be affected come October […]