TeacXR '26 | 1st International Workshop on Teaching eXtended Reality

Workshop Overview

As the need for XR (VR/AR/MR) development grows, the "skills gap" between technical proficiency and inclusive human-centred design has become a critical bottleneck. Unlike traditional 2D interfaces, XR development requires students to master complex 3D interactions, spatial navigation across parallel realities, and multisensory input/output.

TeacXR '26 is a half-day hybrid interactive workshop dedicated to the pedagogy of spatial computing, bringing together educators, researchers, and industry leaders to share evidence-based practices for teaching the design and development of VR/AR/MR applications. We invite submissions that explore how we can train the next generation of developers to prioritize more inclusive, human-centred design while juggling the challenges of teaching a multidisciplinary skill set.

Topics of Interest

We invite short paper case studies, position papers, and example syllabi abstracts on topics including, but not limited to:

XR Pedagogy Developing learning objectives and assessment rubrics for spatial computing.
Low-Barrier Learning Using WebXR (A-Frame, Three.js) and other open-source tools to democratize XR education.
The "HCI Gap" Methods for teaching 3D interaction patterns, gestural UI, and spatial audio.
Inclusive Design Strategies for training students to build accessible XR for diverse abilities.
Curriculum Case Studies Lessons learned from "learning by making" and interdisciplinary student projects.
Evaluating Student Work Metrics and tools for assessing immersive assignments.
Ethics of New Virtual Worlds Strategies for embedding ethical considerations into how we design and develop virtual environments.

Submission Categories

Short Papers (4-6 pages)

Original research or robust case studies in XR education.

Position Papers (2-4 pages)

Provocative ideas, proposed frameworks, or early-stage pedagogical experiments.

The "Syllabus Show-and-Tell" (1-2 page abstract)

A description of a specific teaching module, assignment, or tool that you wish to demonstrate during an interactive session.

Important Dates

Submission Deadline July 5, 2026, 23:59 AoE (UTC-12)
Notification of Acceptance July 17, 2026
Camera-Ready Deadline July 31, 2026
Workshop Date October 5 or 6, 2026 (TBD)

Submission Guidelines

All submissions must follow the IEEE VGTC format (opens in a new tab) and will be peer-reviewed (single-blind) by our international program committee. Accepted papers will be published in the ISMAR 2026 Adjunct Proceedings and indexed in IEEE Xplore.

Please submit via EasyChair at this link.

Workshop Format & Agenda

TeacXR '26 is a participatory, highly interactive half-day workshop (~210 Minutes). To maintain high engagement, the session balances rapid presentation styles with deep-dive collaborative breakouts. NOTE: The current schedule is subject to change.

Time Offset	Session	Description
00:00 - 00:20	Welcome & Vision	Introduction by the organizers. Framing the "Skills Gap" in current XR education.
00:20 - 01:20	Lightning Paper Presentations	5-7 minute rapid-fire presentations of accepted position papers, followed by brief Q&A. Focus on "Current States of XR Teaching."
01:20 - 01:40	Coffee & Networking Break	Facilitated networking (with a dedicated "virtual coffee" breakout for remote attendees).
01:40 - 02:20	"Syllabus Show-and-Tell"	A curated syllabus sharing session. Organizers and attendees share a specific tool (e.g., WebXR vs. Unity), teaching strategy, or an assignment that successfully bridged the 2D-to-3D development gap.
02:20 - 03:10	Interactive Breakout: The "Curriculum Hack"	Participants split into groups (Hybrid-friendly) to solve a specific challenge, such as: "Designing for accessibility" or "Measuring learning in XR assessments."
03:10 - 03:30	Synthesis & Roadmapping	Closing thoughts and ideas for a "Manifesto on the Teaching of XR" draft. Discussion on future iterations of TeacXR and community resource sharing.