Academic VR Simulation

The University of Missouri–St. Louis and its Child Advocacy Studies (CAST) Program needed a more scalable way to train students in investigative observation and environmental assessment. Their existing physical ‘mock house’ offered valuable hands-on learning, but it was difficult to reset, limited to one learner at a time, and constrained by the realities of physical space. That created a clear opportunity for a more flexible and repeatable training system.

CM&D designed and developed a virtual investigation training experience that allows learners to move through a digital house in VR, identify potential evidence, and practice making judgment calls about what should and should not be flagged for further review. Built to support a highly sensitive training context, the simulation gives students and future investigators a more practical way to strengthen observation skills in an environment that would otherwise be difficult to recreate consistently.

The final program extended well beyond the core VR experience. In addition to the simulation itself, CM&D built a scenario builder that allows instructors and student teachers to configure multiple training setups, save up to eight unique scenario variations, and use the platform across VR headsets, PC, iOS, and Android. The result was a full institutional training system designed for accessibility, repeatable use, and long-term academic value.

The Goal:

Create a more scalable and effective way to train students and future investigators to assess environments, identify relevant evidence, and build practical investigative skills. The broader goal was to replace a limited physical training setup with a more flexible digital program that could support classroom, lab, and remote learning.

Our Approach:

CM&D approached the project as a full training program rather than a standalone simulation. The experience needed to be academically credible, flexible for instructors, and practical for repeated institutional use. We led the project from concept through implementation, shaping the overall training design, scenario structure, 3D environment development, and deployment plan to ensure the final system worked across a range of instructional settings.

Key elements of the project included:

By moving the experience into a digital training environment, the university gained a more efficient and accessible system that allows more learners to participate individually, reduces reset time between sessions, and supports instruction both on campus and remotely. The project stands as a strong example of how immersive technology can modernize complex academic training without losing the depth of hands-on practice.

Client:

University of Missouri-St. Louis

Partner:

UMSL Child Advocacy Studies (CAST) Program

Format:

Virtual Reality Training Simulator