Design Beyond the Headset: Practitioner Lessons from an International Faculty Development Workshop in XR and Emerging Technologies

Abstract This practitioner-based article explores the challenges and successes of designing and delivering an international, virtual faculty development workshop on immersive reality (XR) technologies. Drawing on the lived experiences of instructional designers and both American and Russian faculty, the piece details key design choices—such as selecting accessible, web-based XR tools—and highlights the collaborative problem-solving required to bridge institutional, technological, and cultural divides. Reflections from participants reveal both the promise of XR for engaging pedagogy and the persistent barriers to sustainable adoption. Actionable strategies for practitioners include the importance of contextual readiness, playful engagement, and ongoing support. Insights gained from this workshop offer a flexible, scalable model for integrating emerging technologies—not only XR, but also new frontiers such as artificial intelligence—into diverse higher education contexts.