Doctoral candidate helps train educators to use extended reality tools

By Cynthia Hollenbeck, WSU Graduate School

A student wearing a VR headset views the results of student using a new app.
Ali Asiri wearing a VR headset, viewing the results of a student using a new app.

As a teen growing up in Saudi Arabia, Ali Asiri never could have foreseen what a positive impact playing the video game Resident Evil would have on his future career goals.

The Washington State University doctoral candidate in Language, Literacy, and Technology perfected his English language skills by playing the game with his family. This ultimately set him on his current path pursuing a PhD at WSU where Asiri provides a variety of professional development workshops and hands-on instruction to raise awareness of extended reality (XR) and how it can support teaching practices.

…As part of his work in the XR Dev Lab, Asiri has collaborated with the faculty of WSU’s Intensive American Language Center (IALC) to unlock the potential of using virtual reality (VR) in their teaching practices. Read more about Ali Asiri’s work.