ASU Global Launch innovates with Virtual Reality at Meta Educator Community Summit 2024
Emilia Gracia presents innovative language learning tools developed through ASU’s collaboration with Immerse and Next Lab.
Emilia Gracia, Global Launch Senior Global Educator, at the Meta Educator Community Summit 2024 in Menlo Park, California. Photo courtesy of Meta Educator Community Summit.
ASU’s Global Launch continues to break new ground in immersive English language learning. In October 2024, Emilia Gracia, Senior Global Educator at Global Launch, represented Arizona State University at the Meta Educator Community Summit in Menlo Park, California. This inaugural summit brought together innovative educators and tech industry leaders to explore the transformative potential of metaverse technologies in education.
Nominated by Christian Rowe, Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer of Immerse, Gracia was invited to deliver a Lightning Talk, further solidifying ASU’s position as a pioneer in virtual reality (VR) language education.
It was an honor to attend and give a Lightning Talk. This summit uniquely brought together educators and industry leaders, giving us the chance to mindmeld, share ideas and explore future projects. The networking opportunities and talks were incredibly informative and motivational.
Emilia Gracia
ASU Global Launch has long been at the forefront of virtual reality in education. The program’s collaboration with Immerse and ASU’s Next Lab has yielded innovative tools, such as the VR Language Lab, which allows students to practice English in immersive virtual environments.
“What excites me about virtual reality is its ability to create authentic communication scenarios. VR’s interactivity and immersion make language learning more engaging and effective for students,” Gracia noted.
This forward-thinking use of VR aligns with ASU’s commitment to innovation, as demonstrated by the university ranked No. 1 in innovation for 10 consecutive years in the newly released annual “Best Colleges” 2025 rankings by U.S. News & World Report. Gracia’s work in immersive language learning reflects the kind of advancements that have earned ASU this title. ASU’s leadership in integrating these technologies supports the university’s broader mission to leverage innovation to make education more accessible and impactful worldwide, preparing students for the challenges and opportunities of a digital future.
Gracia’s participation in the Meta Educator Community Summit has provided new insights and inspiration for her ongoing work with colleagues Bea Rodriguez-Fransen and Dan Munnerly from ASU’s Next Lab. She returned from the summit with fresh ideas for future projects and partnerships that could advance the field of immersive learning.