Virtual Reality Exploration of Georgetown’s Reconciliation Initiative Wins Two Telly Awards

An innovative teaching tool using virtual reality developed by instructors at Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) for a course titled “The Sociological Imagination in the 21st Century” was recognized with two prestigious awards from the international television and video industry.

Garnering Telly Awards in both the immersive and mixed reality categories, the educational 360 virtual reality (VR) documentary produced by course instructor Dr. Christine Schiwietz and academic librarian Robert Laws transported students to the university’s Washington, DC, campus for a walking tour of the Georgetown Slavery, Memory, and Reconciliation Project (GU272) launched in 2016.

“Our vision aspired to leverage the capabilities of VR to create an immersive teaching and learning experience  for students at Georgetown’s Qatar campus to feel more connected to this important initiative despite the geographical distance to the DC campus,” said Dr. Schiwietz. “Virtual reality takes ‘global’ experiential learning to a whole new level.”

The innovative educational approach of VR storytelling required capturing original footage using  a 360-degree camera,mixed with interviews with scholars, historical artifacts from the GU archives, music from famous African American composers, surrounding video from across Washington, DC and narration. The resulting film was viewed through VR headsets. Students were then able to explore the narrative scenes to feel like they were actually there in person and connect their virtual experience to the traditional reading materials assigned in class.

Technical support for the project was provided by Laws, who said: “We embraced the emerging technologies of virtual and mixed reality and produced a final film that immersed students into the locations and debates surrounding the important issue of social justice. Students gained important digital literacy skills through this experience and for many it was the first time they used a VR headset for an educational purpose.”

Schiwietz and Laws say they hope to explore and expand on the use of artificial intelligence and immersive storytelling in future projects as part of the university’s commitment to promoting social justice through education.

Established in 1979, The Telly Awards receive over 12,000 entries from all 50 states and 5 continents. Entrants are judged by The Telly Awards Judging Council, an industry body of over 200 leading experts including advertising agencies, production companies, and major television networks, reflective of the multiscreen industry.

The GU272 project is ongoing, and students, faculty, staff, and independent researchers continue to advocate for reparative justice.The project includes efforts to increase the representation and support of Black students, faculty, and staff at Georgetown University. The university also accepts applications for their Reconciliation Fund, which is inspired by a 2019 student referendum and awards $400,000 annually to community-based projects that have direct impact on descendant communities whose ancestors were once enslaved on the Maryland Jesuit plantations.