A Next-Gen Computer Lab: AR, VR, and Accessibility by Design

This post is the final part in a series of posts created as part of my graduate studies assignments. At SCC's Center for Teaching and Learning, we've been developing a proposal for a dedicated computer lab that puts accessibility and immersive technology at the center of the design, instead of treating them as an afterthought.

The plan centers on six workstation pods seating 24 students, plus two dedicated accessible workstations built into the same footprint, so no one is set apart. Every seat pairs a stylus-enabled tablet with an external monitor, keeping handwriting-linked cognitive benefits alive alongside full desktop functionality. Six standalone passthrough mixed-reality headsets extend the room into STEM and health sciences, letting students explore 3D anatomy models and run science simulations that a textbook can't match.

None of this depends on being physically in the room. A virtual desktop infrastructure layer extends the lab's software to commuters and working adults studying from home, and built-in accessibility tools ship at zero marginal cost. The full Year 1 build, including headsets, displays, networking, and licensing, comes in at $47,288, comfortably inside our $50,000 cap.

I'd love to hear from other instructional designers, IT directors, and accessibility specialists who have built similar labs: what worked, what you'd change, and what pitfalls to avoid. If you're working on something similar, or just want to compare notes on AR/VR in the classroom, I'd welcome the conversation. Reach out, and let's build better labs together.