Generations of F&M students have developed ideas in the classroom and taken them to the larger world through research. After all, learning by doing is in our DNA as Diplomats. One of the latest examples is a Hackman Scholars project completed this summer that examined the use of extended reality (XR) in automated training systems.

Emily Jensen, assistant professor of computer science, mentored Sujal Shah ’27 and Kha Nguyen ’28 in their research, which examines how XR training for employees (including virtual reality and augmented reality) can be improved and made more effective.

“More and more companies are using XR training for their employees because of cost and safety concerns,” Jensen explained. “Using an XR simulator of heavy construction equipment isn’t as risky or expensive as using the equipment itself. But most people learn best when they receive individual attention and immediate feedback based on that individual’s needs and skill level.”

“Computer science is all about taking big problems and breaking them down into small pieces that computers can solve,” Jensen continued. “This project gives students a real-world problem to solve by using their classroom learning.”

Shah, a double major in computer science and business, organizations and society, brought previous experience working with drones to the research.

“Integrating drones with XR was fascinating to me because it brought together two cutting-edge fields in a unique way,” he said. “I could apply my existing skills with drones in a completely new context, and the chance to learn about XR opened up an entirely new area of interest for me. This research offered the perfect balance between using what I already knew and exploring new areas to keep me pushing forward.”

Shah, who plans to attend graduate school and eventually launch a technology start-up in his native Nepal, also noted that his double major proved valuable in the research. 

“A lot of the coding practices I learned in computer science classes were put to use in a real-world project,” he said. “I’ve been able to apply theoretical concepts in practical ways and see firsthand how they fit into larger, more complex projects. My BOS major taught me communication and presentation skills, which help me translate complicated project details into simpler terms for a variety of audiences.”

Kha plans to double major in psychology and cognitive science and attend graduate school. Jensen said, “Kha provided a deeper perspective from those disciplines, asking foundational questions: ‘How do we define skill and determine when a skill has been learned? How do we transfer learned knowledge from a classroom setting to a more complex workforce training context?’”

Kha noted that one thing learned was the patience needed to pursue research. “Even before we started the project itself, there were many protocols to work through, including preparation for the Institutional Review Board,” they said. “As we designed the framework of our system, we had to thoroughly understand current trends and needs to ensure that the system could be the most efficient for both the companies and their employees.”

Jensen, Shah and Nguyen also worked to make connections with local industries to learn more about how their XR training could be safer and more efficient. The research continues this fall and Jensen envisions it will span several semesters, with student researchers continuing to play an important role.

“This research offered the perfect balance between using what I already knew and exploring new areas to keep me pushing forward.”

— Sujal Shah ’27

A Leader in Groundbreaking Scholarship

Your ideas may start in the classroom, but they won’t be contained there. At F&M, you’ll work and learn side-by-side with faculty to test theories—not just read or talk about them. In fact, F&M is ranked 11th in Best Liberal Arts Colleges for Research (Wall Street Journal) and is ranked among leading national institutions that prioritize research activity (Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education).

Learn by doing at F&M »