CMU, rural schools partner for AR/VR dual-enrollment course

Pencils down. Headsets on.

Four rural Michigan high schools recently completed their first year of using mixed reality headsets in their classrooms as part of a new, innovative health science course allowing students to learn in a more engaging way while also giving them the opportunity to earn college credit.

Bullock Creek, Freeland, Garber and Beal City high schools were selected to pilot the new dual enrollment anatomy and physiology class with Central Michigan University during the 2025-2026 school year.

“The vision with this was to take the technology out to rural school systems and demonstrate to students that they could really do college-level coursework successfully,” said Greg Zimmerman, associate dean for The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow College of Health Professions. 

As part of the course, students interact with 360-degree virtual dissections, manipulate anatomical models and explore human body systems using the latest Augmented Reality technology.

“I liked how you could get away from the textbook and see the images suspended in air,” said Bullock Creek junior Madelynn Forshee. “I felt like that was a better way of learning.”

The learning itself is one of three goals Zimmerman says they hope to achieve.

“Our second goal was to inspire the students to pursue health professions degrees at a college or university because this course is transferable to any college or university,” he said. “Thirdly, after they graduate from college or university, hopefully this encourages them to return to their rural communities to serve out their career in health professions.”

The program is funded by a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture with support from former Congressman Dan Kildee, U.S. Senator Gary Peters and former U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow.

CMU has been approved for additional funding to expand the program to between six and 10 high schools across the state in the fall of 2027.