Professional Development & Micro-Certification Course - Section 2
Section 2: Mastering VXRLabs & VR Implementation
A step-by-step guide to setting up VXRLabs, onboarding users, managing headsets, licenses, and ensuring a seamless technical integration for educators and students.
Go Back to Section 1: The Power of Spatial Learning
Table of Contents
First Steps
As a precursor to the training included in Module 2: Mastering VXRLabs & VR Implementation, there are three reference documents that we highly recommend you review and keep readily accessible for the remainder of the training.
Creating an Account
The first step in getting started will be to create your VictoryXR account. Once your order is processed, you will receive an automated Welcome to VictoryXR! email. In this email, you will find important information on accessing your content, and you will be prompted to select the blue Get Started button at the bottom of the screen. If you don’t see this email in your inbox, please check your spam folder.
Upon selecting the Get Started button you will be redirected to our Sign Up page where you will input a display name, email address, and your desired password, and then select Create an Account. Please note that you must use the same email address that you used to purchase your products. If purchasing more than one subscription, you will not need to set up two accounts with this email. All products will be under your one organization (see next step). Please also keep in mind that the email and password you input here will be used to access the VXRLabs application in-headset, unless the license(s) will be attributed to other members within your organization. Please write these credentials down in a safe place to reference later. If you have SSO credentials through Clever or Edlink, you can also create an account by selecting Sign Up with Clever or Sign Up with Edlink.
Once you input the necessary account creation information and select the Create an Account button, you will be required to Verify Your Email. Once you’ve verified your email address, you can click the Sign In button at the bottom of the screen to sign in to your account. If you did not receive a verification email, please check your spam folder first, and if you can’t find it there – contact info@victoryxr.com.
Setting up an Organization
Upon your first time signing in, you will have several VictoryXR onboarding tasks to complete. The first step will be to select the type of organization that you are a part of – College or University, K-12 School, Homeschool, or Business or Other. Please note, if you are an individual subscriber or you are not affiliated with one of these organization types, you can select Business or Other.
If you are the Team Lead for your organization, and no one else in your organization has completed the onboarding process yet, please select, “I’ve just purchased a VictoryXR product for the first time”.
If you are an Instructor, or a new Team Lead, who has been invited to create an account by an existing Team Lead within an existing organization, please select “I want to join my school/business’s existing VictoryXR organization”.
If you select, “I’ve just purchased a VictoryXR product for the first time”, you will be asked to enter a name for your organization.
If you select, “I want to join my school/business’s existing VictoryXR organization”, you will be automatically added to the organization you were invited to by a Team Lead at your school or business. If you select this step without having been invited to an organization that already exists, you’ll be prompted to contact your Team Lead so they can invite you, or you’ll be prompted to return to the previous screen and to choose, “I’ve just purchased a VictoryXR product for the first time”.
If you choose Homeschool, you will be prompted, “This account will be your parent account. You’ll be able to set up accounts for your child(ren) later. You can also change the email on this account later if you used the wrong one on your order”, and to, “Enter a name for your homeschool”.
Product Dashboard
Welcome to Nexus, our Learning Management System. Upon your first time signing in, you will be invited to take a tour of Nexus.
Your Nexus Dashboard is where you can navigate and find information on VictoryXR’s various platforms and offerings.
The user below has purchased a VictoryXR Subscription (indicated by the tile’s blue color) which includes access to VictoryXR AI, VXRLabs, and VXRWeb, but has not purchased a license to any Add-On content (including CTE and Dissection Bundles), so those products appear in black-and-white.
By selecting a product tile on the Dashboard, such as the VictoryXR Subscription tile, you can find more information about accessing the product, manage licenses for this product within your organization, access professional development, and find other resources.
After selecting the VictoryXR Subscription tile, you’ll see the following:
- License Management: Manage your Organization’s licenses (IF you are a Team Lead)
- VXRLabs: Access Download Instructions for the VXRLabs Application
- VXRWeb: Access VXRWeb, our Web-Based Educational Platform
- Professional Development: Access Training and Complete our Micro-Certificate
- In-App Training Registration: Register for a Weekly Training Session In-Headset
- VXRLabs Product Support AI: Ask our Product Support AI Questions
Adding Users and Assigning Licenses
The Organization tab is where you’ll find Organization Info, as well as information on your Subscription, and Users & Students within your organization.
If you are a team lead within your organization, you can invite instructors and add students to your organization from the Users and Students tab.
To invite an Instructor or Team Lead, select the Add User option.
Within this page, you can input the Instructor or Team Lead’s email directly, OR, you can upload a CSV file, identify the column that includes the users’ email addresses, designate their role, and assign them to a class/group if needed. If you would like the User to have administrative permission, such as the ability to assign and un-assign licenses within your organization, designate their role as a Team Lead. Once invited, the Team Lead or Instructor will receive an email notification to create an account.
You can also add Students via the Add Users button if you want to add the Students via CSV file. Please note, adding Students via this method requires that an email is included to be used as their username. To avoid using an email for Student accounts, you can use the Create Student Account button instead of Add Users.
To add a Student to your organization, select the Create Student Account button.
When adding a student, the only information needed is their name (a generic name can be used), and a username and password of your choosing. Please remember to record this username and password in a safe place so that you can then share it with the student. Students will not receive a notification to create an account, because you have already done that for them. They can proceed directly to logging into the VXRLabs application with the credentials you have created. If you do not input a Username and Password, they will be automatically generated and assigned.
Next, we’ll take a look at the Subscription tab under Organization.
Within this tab, you’ll find information on how many VictoryXR and Add-On Content licenses your Organization has. This User’s organization has 1 VictoryXR license and no Add-On content.
Please note, adding a User is the first step is providing access to content for a Student, Instructor, or Team Lead. The second step is to assign a license to the new User. To do this, navigate to the Dashboard, and select the VictoryXR Subscription product tile.
Next, select License Management.
Once selected, you’ll see a listing of all of the Users who have been added to your organization, and which of them are assigned VictoryXR licenses. A User needs a license assigned to them to access content in-application. You can assign and revoke the licenses seamlessly. On this screen, you can also see how many total seats, or licenses, your organization has, how many are already assigned, and the expiration date of the licenses.
Add-On Content
A VictoryXR Subscription provides access to our base library of experiences within VXRLabs, VictoryXR AI, and VXRWeb. Add-On content offerings, such as our CTE Bundles, must be purchased separately from your VictoryXR Subscription. To access Add-On content, a User must be assigned a standard VictoryXR License, in addition to an Add-On license. Add-On offerings that you have purchased and are assigned a license to will appear blue, while offerings that you do not have access to will appear black-and-white. Please note, if you or someone in your organization has purchased an Add-On module, but it is appearing black-and-white (see below), please confirm that a license to the add-on experience has been assigned to the User.
Each Add-On experience, such as CTE Healthcare, has a distinct product home page within Nexus where you can find information on How To Access the content, supplementary 2D Curriculum, and a License Management Portal.
The How To Access tab will provide a user manual on accessing and using the specific add-on module.
Some Add-On experiences, such as our CTE bundles, come with 2D Curriculum intended to supplement the virtual reality experience. For example, within the CTE Healthcare 2D curriculum, you’ll find a series of 2D videos and text-based resources for Nursing and Medical Assistants. After completing sections of the 2D curriculum, you will be prompted to then go in-headset to complete virtual reality simulations and apply the knowledge.
Lastly, it’s important to note that Add-On content licenses function separately from your standard VictoryXR License. If you have assigned a VictoryXR license to a User, it does not mean that they have also been assigned a license to any Add-On content. As pictured here, the CTE Healthcare License must be assigned separately to the user who will be accessing the 2D and VR CTE content. You can do this through the license management tab on the specific Add On content product homepage.
Installing VXRLabs
Please see the instructions below for information on how to install VXRLabs to various devices.
To install VXRLabs on a Meta Quest 2, 3, or Pro headset, complete the following steps in-headset.
- Press the Oculus button on your right controller to open the menu.
- Select the Meta Quest Store application icon.
- Search for “VXRLabs”.
- Select the VXRLabs application, and download it by selecting “Get”.
Once installation is complete, VXRLabs will be available in your library.
VXRLabs is accessible through PCVR tethered headsets. To install on a tethered headset, complete the following steps.
- Navigate to https://www.victoryxr.com/download-vxrlabs/. Select Download to a PCVR Headset to download the .exe installer file. Follow the system prompts and complete your installation.
- Ensure that your VR Headset is connected and ready.
- Open Steam.
- Open SteamVR on your Headset.
- Open VXRLabs from your Windows Start Menu, or your Desktop if you made a Shortcut.
Optional Steps for Each Launch In-Headset:
- With Steam open, go to your Steam Library (At the top of Steam, click on “Library”).
- Add Your Program.
- At the bottom left of your Steam Library, click “+ ADD A GAME,” then “Add a Non-Steam Game”.
- A list pops up. Click “Browse,” find your .exe file, select it, and then click “Add Selected Programs”.
- Set Up Your VR Headset.
- Connect your headset to your computer using the cable.
- Make sure it’s turned on and set up by following the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Start SteamVR.
- Launch Your Program.
- With SteamVR running and your headset on, go back to the Library in Steam.
- Find your added program in the list, click it, and choose “Play in VR.”
To install on a Windows PC, complete the following steps.
- Ensure that your computer meets the following hardware specifications.
- OS: Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8.1 or later, Windows 10
- Processor: Intel Core i5-4590/AMD FX 8350 equivalent or better
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060, AMD Radeon RX 480 equivalent or better
- Navigate to https://www.victoryxr.com/download-vxrlabs/. Select Download to a PC at the top of the page to download the .exe installer file.
- Follow the system prompts and complete your installation.
- Depending on the browser you are using, the file may begin downloading automatically, or your browser may ask you if you would like to Save or Open the download file, at which point you can select Open to start the download.
- Once the download is complete, your PC may notify you that it has stopped an unrecognized app from starting, you can proceed with opening the application by selecting Run Anyway. You may need to hit More Information if Windows Defender attempts to block the application from starting.
- Your PC may then ask you “Do you want to allow this app from an unknown publisher to make changes to your device?” Select Yes.
You will then be brought through the VXRLabs Setup Wizard to finalize Installation. The last step will be to launch VXRLabs.
To install on a Mac computer, complete the following steps.
- Navigate to https://www.victoryxr.com/download-vxrlabs/. Select Sideload to a MacOS Device at the top of the page to download the .dmg installer file.
- Follow the system prompts and complete your installation. Once the file is downloaded, open it and drag-and-drop VXRLabs into your Applications folder.
- Open VXRLabs from your Application folder. You will receive a notification that “ ‘VXRLabs’ can’t be opened because Apple cannot check it for malicious software”. Close the warning.
- Open Privacy & Security from System Settings, scroll to the bottom, and you will see a notification in the Security section that “VXRLabs” was blocked.
- Select Open Anyway.
- You may receive a notification that “‘VXRLabs” can’t be opened because Apple cannot check it for malicious software”.
Select Open.
Starting your First Session
When you open the VXRLabs application, you will start in the Lobby and see the menu screen in front of you.
- Sign In – Login with your VictoryXR username or email and password to access content. If you are not logged in with an account that has a license assigned to it, you will not be able to access paid content.
- Play Now – Redirect you to the Catalog (also pictured on the side menu), where you can choose from different immersive experiences and start a session.
- Profile – Customize your avatar and see User information in Profile.
- Join by Room Code – Join a session that has been opened by another User.
- Settings – Update volume, microphone, tracking, and controls settings, or access debug features.
If you have a VictoryXR Subscription, the first step to access your content is to select the Sign In option from the Dashboard. If you have a Team Lead or Instructor account, you will login with the email and password you have created within Nexus, our web manager. If you are a Student, you will login with the username and password that your Team Lead / Instructor has created and provided to you. If you do not have a VictoryXR Subscription, you can skip this step and access select free experiences.
Selecting Play Now will direct you to the VXRLabs Catalog, where you can access your immersive content. For more information on the various modules available in the Catalog, continue reading.
If you are a User joining an existing room, select Join by Room Code. You will be prompted to enter a 6-Digit Room Code (set by the Room host), and a 4-Digit Pin (optional), to find the Room and join it.
Choosing an Experience
To start your own session, navigate to the Catalog. Within the Catalog, you can apply various filters by selecting the filter icon. By filtering by Module Type (see below), you can choose from a variety of experiences. Continue reading for an overview of how these experiences differ from each other.
Simulations
Simulation modules are guided, interactive experiences focused on specific subjects. Examples include Biology and Chemistry labs, CSI experience, Great Gatsby Escape Room, and more. You can determine if a module is a simulation or another type of experience by opening it (see below).
Creator Spaces
Creator Space modules are virtual environments and classrooms where users can customize the space by bringing in 3D models (Spawnables), sharing media files, using the 3D Pen and Sticky Notes, and more. These spaces are clearly labeled as Creator Spaces when you open the module.
Conversational AI
Conversational AI modules feature one or more conversational AI avatars that users can interact with. These avatars include historical figures, patients, situationally-trained avatars, (such as a business executive negotiating a contract), and more.
Creating a Session
To create a session, start by selecting the experience you want to conduct the session in. Once chosen, you can either select Play by Myself (single player) or Play with Others (multiplayer) to begin the session.
If you select Play by Myself, you will automatically load into the experience. If you choose Play with Others, you will be prompted to Create a Room. To Create a Room, you will set a Room Name, and select whether it will be a Public or Private Room. If it is a Public Room, any User can see the Room and join it. If it is a Private Room, you can set a Random Room Code or create a Custom Room Code. If you create a Custom Room Code, you will also set a 4-Digit Pin to join. Users will need to enter the Room Code and Pin to join.
Joining a Session
To Join a Session started by another User, select the Join by Room Code button. You will be prompted to input the Room Code and Pin set by the session host. Input those codes and you will then see the session listed and have the option to Join.
Inviting Others to Your Session
To invite others to your session, simply share the Room Code and Pin that you have set (for an already open Room) or that you plan to set (at a future time) with the User who you would like to invite.
Essential Features
Please see instructions on Essential Features below.
Accessing Your Menu In-Session
To access your menu while in a session, look at your left wrist as if you were wearing a watch, and the menu will appear.
Audio Settings
To adjust the volume and microphone settings while in the Lobby or a Session, navigate to Settings, then select Volume or Microphone. In the Volume tab, you can adjust the Master Volume, Background Music, Multiplayer Voices, AI Voices, and Sound Effects/Misc. volumes. In the Microphone tab, you can enable / disable your device’s microphone usage and test your input level.
Moving Around
To move around a space while in-headset, use the left-hand controller thumbstick to move, and the right-hand controller thumbstick to change the orientation of your avatar’s body, which dictates your direction of movement.
Teleporting
To teleport within a space while in-headset, press and hold the A button on the Meta Quest controller, then release it.
Changing the Experience
To pilot the room to a different experience (host-only), access the watch face menu by looking at your left wrist as if you were wearing a watch. Select Menu, then choose Catalog. From there, select the experience you want to pilot to. Please note, only the host of a session can pilot the room to another experience.
Taking a Picture with Camera
To take a picture with our built-in camera, open the watch face menu by looking at your left wrist as if you were wearing a watch. Select Tools, then choose Camera. The Camera will spawn into the environment. Any pictures taken will automatically be uploaded to and accessible within your Nexus account.
Creator Space Features
Within Creator Spaces, users have access to a variety of features that allow them to create and build within the environment.
Using Spawnables
Spawnables are 3D models that can be introduced into Creator Space environments. To add a Spawnable, look at your left wrist to access the watch face menu. Select Menu, then choose Spawnables.
Spawnables are sorted in Collections based on the subject or field they belong to. Select a Collection to view the Spawnables within the Collection, and then bring the 3D Spawnable of your choosing into the environment by pulling the Select trigger on the back of either controller. Once the Spawnable has loaded into the environment, you can interact with it in several ways.
To Select / Grab the Spawnable:
- Pull the back-side Select trigger on your controller to generate a circular interactive button around your spawnables in the environment.
- Aim at the center of the spawnable, and pull the side-grip Interact trigger to grab the spawnable.
- Keep both triggers held down to maintain control of the spawnable.
To Use the Move & Scale Function:
- After selecting the Spawnable by pulling both triggers on either controller (and continuing to hold them down), you will have the ability to Move & Scale the asset using the following controls.
Hand Controller | Action |
|---|---|
Up (Thumbstick) | Move Forwards |
Down (Thumbstick) | Move Backwards |
Left (Thumbstick) | Shrink Spawnable |
Right (Thumbstick) | Enlarge Spawnable |
B or Y | Reset Scale |
A or X | Snap to Grid |
To Use the Free Rotate function:
- To switch from the default Move & Scale control system to the Free Rotate system, press in (click) the thumbstick on the VR controller. The Free Rotate system allows you to adjust the orientation of the Spawnable, giving you the ability to rotate it freely in any direction: left, right, up, or down. This mode allows continuous and smooth rotation of the Spawnable in any direction. You can precisely adjust the angle and orientation to your preference.
Hand Controller | Action |
Up (Thumbstick) | Rotate Up |
Down (Thumbstick) | Rotate Down |
Left (Thumbstick) | Rotate Left |
Right (Thumbstick) | Rotate Right |
B or Y | Reset Rotation |
A or X | Rotate Toward Cursor |
Using Specialty Spawnables
Some spawnables are classified as Specialty Spawnables due to their enhanced functionality compared to standard Spawnables. Examples include the Test Cube (Physics), Climbing Bar, and Coordinate Point. The Test Cube (Physics) is physics-enabled, meaning it can be dropped, thrown, and will interact with other physics-enabled spawnables. The Climbing Bar allows users to climb using the two hand controllers, enabling them to scale to great heights in any environment. The Coordinate Point provides dynamic coordinates based on its placement in the environment. These are just a few examples of Specialty Spawnables available in the asset library. To identify all Specialty Spawnables available, head to the Asset Catalog in Nexus and filter by Specialty Spawnable.
Layouts
Once you’ve brought Spawnables into a Creator Space environment, you can save the configuration as a Layout to load in future sessions and share with others. To save a Layout, open the Menu, navigate to Spawnables, and select Layouts in the top-right corner. From there, you can select Create New Layout to save the layout to your account.
Once you’ve selected Create New Layout, you can name the Layout and choose to either Include Locked (White) Spawnables in Layout, or to Include Shared (Blue) Spawnables in Layout.
When bringing in Spawnables, whether they will be Locked (White), or Shared (Blue), will be determined by whether this interactive button (below) says Spawns LOCKED or Spawns SHARED. If it says Spawns LOCKED, only the User who has brought the spawnable in will be able to interact with and save it, and the interactive button around the spawnable will appear white. If it says Spawns SHARED, all Users will be able to interact with it and save it in a Layout, and the interactive button around the spawnable with appear blue.
Once your Layout is saved, you will see it appear in the Layout section. Each Layout will have a distinct tile (see below) that indicates the name of the Layout, and whether it is synced to Nexus. If the Cloud appears without a line through it, such as in the image below, the layout has been synced to Nexus, so you can login to your VictoryXR account through a web browser, open the Files section, and you will find the Layout saved as a .vxrl file, which you can download to your computer to share with others.
You can load the Layout into your current session by selecting it. Once selected, you’ll see options to:
- Sync with Nexus Account: This will force the system to sync the Layout with Nexus, making it available to download via your Nexus account.
- Load Layout relative to your position: If checked, the Layout will load in relative to the position of your avatar at the time that it was saved. If un-checked, the Layout will load into the original location that it was saved in the Creator Space.
- Load Layout as Shared Spawnables: If checked, all Spawnables included in the Layout will be Shared, so other Users can interact with and save them.
- Delete: Delete the Layout
- Duplicate Layouts: Duplicate the Layout
3D Pen
In Creator Spaces AND in Simulations, users can bring in the 3D Pen by opening the watch face menu by looking at your left wrist as if you were wearing a watch. Select Tools, then choose 3D Pen. The 3D Pen will spawn into the environment.
To write with the 3D Pen, grab the pen by pulling the back-side trigger on your controller with your hand over the pen, and then pull the side-grip trigger to draw. Users can change the color and line thickness of the pen to suit their needs. Once a drawing is complete, it can be saved and converted into a 3D object by selecting Finalize Drawing. This 3D object can then be resized, moved, and manipulated within the virtual environment, providing a dynamic and interactive way to create and share visual information.
Scratchpad
To add text-based notes in a Creator Space, bring in the Scratchpad from the Special Objects collection of Spawnables. The Scratchpad allows you to quickly jot down and display notes within the virtual environment.
Sharing Media
Users can easily bring uploaded-files into a Creator Space by uploading them to their Nexus account under the Files tab. The following file type are supported:
- PDF (PDF)
- MP4, MOV (Video)
- PNG, JPG/JPEG (Image)
- WAV, AAC (Audio)
- OBJ, FBX, DAE, STL (3D Model)
Once uploaded, these files will appear in the Spawnables section under My Nexus Files.
Shared / Locked Spawnables
In Creator Spaces, Spawnables can either be Shared or Locked. If a Spawnable is Locked, only the User who brought it into the environment can interact with it, and the circular interactive button around it will appear white. If a Spawnable is Shared, anyone in the environment can interact with it, and the circular button will be blue.
To bring in a shared spawnable, ensure the top of the Spawnables menu says Spawns SHARED. To bring in a locked spawnable, make sure the top of the menu says Spawns LOCKED. This allows you to control who can interact with each spawnable, providing flexibility in collaborative and individual activities.
Simulation Features
Creator Spaces are designed for users to customize and build within -> Users can bring in Spawnables, User-Uploaded-files, Sticky Notes and more. Simulations, on the other hand, are linear, subject-specific experiences with built-in instructions. These experiences are more interactive + guided, providing structured learning activities with predefined tasks and tools relevant to the subject matter. Users follow a set path with specific objectives
An example of a simulation is the Crime Scene Investigation, where users can bring in various tools like evidence and fingerprint collection equipment to solve a crime. Another example would be a biology lab simulation where students perform virtual dissections or experiments following step-by-step instructions. Each simulation includes built-in tutorials to guide users.
*Users can still access the 3D Pen + Camera functionality in Simulations, but they cannot bring in 3D Models, Sticky Notes, and User-Uploaded Files.
Conversational AI Features (In-Headset)
Conversational AI experiences feature AI avatars that users can interact with verbally. These experiences vary widely, providing diverse interactive scenarios. For example, we offer historical figures who can be asked questions, AI teaching assistants (Anatomy: Body Systems Exploration experience), as well as business executives ready to negotiate deals.
Within an AI experience, users can select the settings cog icon to view the transcript of the conversation and see the radius of the AI (the area in which the AI will hear users). These AI experiences utilize queries to facilitate interaction and ensure a dynamic, responsive experience for users.
*Please note, in-headset AI experiences are different from our AI VXR Build-to-Learn Studio, which allows users to create web-based AI Lessons and Conversations.
Mixed Reality Creator Space
Your VictoryXR Subscription also includes access to our Mixed Reality Creator Space, allowing you to bring Creator Space Spawnables into the real world! To use a Mixed Reality Creator Space, you will be guided through aligning your play spaces with other users in the real world to experience multi-user Mixed Reality.
*Please note, the Mixed Reality Creator Space is currently supported on Meta Quest 2, 3, 3S, and Pro headsets.
VictoryXR AI (Build-to-Learn Studio)
VictoryXR users have access to VictoryXR AI, which can be accessed by selecting the VictoryXR AI tile on the Nexus Dashboard. AI Experiences are currently exclusively web-browser based, and cannot be accessed in-headset.
After selecting the VictoryXR AI tile, you will be directed to our Library of AI Experiences, which includes AI experiences created by other Users. To access any of these experiences, select one and select Play Experience.
To create your own AI Experience, select New AI Experience from the top of the AI Experience Library.
The first step in building your AI Experience is to:
- Choose Lesson or Conversation
- Lesson: Design a lesson to be spoken by an AI Character, including dynamic question & answer, text, images, videos, 3D models, and assessments.
- Conversation: Design ANY type of conversation with an AI character, such as a Patient, Negotiator, Interviewer, etc.
Lessons and Conversations feature unique processes for building them out. For a comprehensive video tutorial, view How To Use The VictoryXR AI Creator Tool below!