Enhancing Skills, Transforming Worlds: Personalized Learning and Global Learning with the TalkTech Project

The TalkTech 2024 project, a collaborative partnership between US and Romanian universities, leverages virtual reality (VR) to foster global collaboration and enhance students' digital skills. This study examines how the project, where students create VR tours of their local communities for international partners, facilitates personalized learning and global engagement. Utilizing Puentedura's SAMR (Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, Redefinition) model, the research investigates how technological integration through VR transforms the learning experience. By creating immersive VR environments, students engage in collaborative research, communication, and digital media production, effectively building "digital bridges" between their communities. The analysis explores how progressing through SAMR stages, from simple substitution to redefining global collaboration through innovative VR experiences, empowers students to develop original digital content. The study concludes that SAMR provides a valuable framework for instructors to integrate immersive learning, demonstrating how incorporating technology can enhance skills, transform learning environments, and foster a deeper understanding of global communities. TalkTech 2024 serves as a model for creating impactful, technology-driven educational experiences.