This year, Jerry Fillman took on the role of Immersive Learning Developer in the Educational Technology Support Department of the Academic Commons, which is the first of its kind at Jefferson. He will now be in charge of Jefferson’s various Extended Reality (XR) resources, which are technologies that bring the digital world into the physical world. In the picture above, Jerry is showing students how to use the Quest 2 Virtual Reality headsets. Previously, Jerry served as a Senior Instructional Designer in the Instructional Design Department of the Academic Commons. Check out the Q&A below to learn more about Jerry’s new role!
What is your name and title?
Jerry Fillman. I’m an Immersive Learning Developer in the Educational Technology Support Department.
When did you start this position?
A little over a month ago in April 2025. Before then, I was a Senior Instructional Designer and ExamSoft Administrator in the Instructional Design Department.
Can you provide some background on the Extended Reality resources that are available to Jefferson students and faculty?
Jefferson has a growing range of Extended Reality (XR) resources for students and faculty. XR is an umbrella term that covers all immersive technologies, including Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR). I use XR because it captures the full range of immersive tools available. Some tools at Jefferson include:
Igloo Vision immersive cylinders in the Hamilton building (6th floor) on the Center City Campus and on the Dixon Campus
Mechdyne CAVE in the Gutman Library (basement) on the East Falls Campus
Quest 2 Virtual Reality headsets
Faculty and students can use these tools to simulate clinical environments, visualize complex topics, or create unique learning experiences.
We’re working on setting up open hours for the Igloo, where students, faculty, and staff can explore content examples created by Jefferson. Open hours will likely begin in either late fall 2025 or early spring 2026.
The Quest headsets and Titan cameras are not yet available for use, but in the future, faculty will be able to use these resources for instructional purposes, after proper training.
Faculty and students can schedule a consultation to demo the resources once available, or learn how to bring them into learning experiences!
What is the benefit of bringing Extended Reality into education?
Extended Reality offers a chance to experience complex or risky scenarios safely and memorably. I always fall back on the DICE model, created by XR researcher and professor from Stanford, Jeremy Bailenson, for deciding when to use XR:
Dangerous – Situations that are too risky to recreate in real life (e.g., emergency scenarios).
Impossible – Situations that can’t be recreated in the physical world (e.g., traveling through the human body).
Counterproductive – Situations where practicing in real life might be unhelpful or have negative consequences (e.g., sensitive conversations).
Expensive or Rare – Situations that are too costly or rare to replicate (e.g., rare medical procedures).
If you have a project that potentially fits into one of these categories, XR could be a useful tool for you.
What are some examples of types of projects faculty could work with you on?
I have started working with both the College of Nursing and Sidney Kimmel Medical College’s (SKMC) Emergency Medicine Department to begin creating various simulations in the Igloo that students can use in the future.
For the College of Nursing, we are creating a “What’s wrong here?” scenario where students point out hazards in a simulated patient room and bedside. Students would point out things that are out of place in the simulation. Examples could be a full bed pan, an incorrectly inserted IV, and so forth.
I am collaborating with SKMC’s Emergency Medicine Department to develop a bio-terrorism simulation in the ER and surrounding areas. The simulation will test students’ ability to administer care and protect both themselves and their patients during a bioterrorist attack.
Screenshots from the unedited video sequences that will serve as the visual backdrop for the SKMC Emergency Medicine bioterrorism simulation (filmed June 2025; simulation scheduled for September 11).
Going back to the DICE model, this would fit in the expensive/counterproductive category. Without the XR equipment, Jefferson would need costly resources to re-enact the bio-terrorist simulation each time, or there is a chance that Jefferson couldn’t create the situation at all for students to learn and practice. But, with our XR technology, emergency resources used in bio-terrorism responses would only have to be used once to create the simulation.
To develop future projects, faculty could partner with me to:
Enhance a lecture to make it more immersive
Identify XR content that best fits their specialty
Create interactive experiences
Develop scenario-based learning activities with 360 videos
I would encourage students and faculty to refer to the DICE outline, and if they think they have a project that could potentially fit into those scenarios, fill out this consultation form.
Why do you find your role important?
Some of these tools can be intimidating, so having a resource to help bridge the technology gap is important. By bringing interactive and realistic scenarios to life, I’m helping to create more impactful learning experiences.
What does your day-to-day routine look like?
These early days have focused mostly on logistical tasks and making the process more efficient for faculty, students, and staff. I’ve also been researching software, hardware, and frameworks that, in the future, can be used in educational settings.
What are you excited about doing in your new position?
It has been inspiring to see how other universities have been able to utilize these resources to their fullest potential. For instance, Michigan State University implemented the Igloo into coursework and research across its various colleges, allowing students and faculty to bring their learning development to a new level. I am excited to see how we can take the faculty’s creative ideas and turn them into powerful learning experiences for all at Jefferson.
How has your work inspired/motivated you to take on this new role?
Seeing how immersive environments can change the way people learn energizes me. It’s about moving past the “fancy new toy” mindset and making learning more accessible and impactful.
Have you developed any new hobbies since you started working at Jefferson?
I’ve started diving deeper into 360-degree video editing outside of work. For instance, I began using a 360-video review when coaching rugby, finding that players have an easier time solving spatial issues after reviewing the content.
I also enjoy birdwatching while on dog walks.
How can faculty contact you?
To learn more about Jefferson’s XR resources, fill out the consultation form to schedule a meeting.