Attend the Hackathon Showcase
Play and Explore learning a new language in VR at the World Language Appathon Showcase.
10 teams will present their final protoypes on Friday, November 21st, from 6:00PM-8:00PM in the Barnett Collaboratory. You are welcome to meet the student designers and test their VR prototypes. The showcase is free and open to the public – all are welcome!
About The Hackathon
The World Language Appathon is where Computer Science innovators and Advanced Computing Center for the Arts and Design (ACCAD) creators team up with language students to design the next generation of educational VR experiences.
Why Do Students Join?
- Build something real – Create interactive VR games and applications using Meta Quest headsets (provided for free to participants).
- Collaborate across disciplines – Pair your technical or design expertise with world languages to create immersive cultural learning experiences.
- Showcase your talent – Projects will be presented at the Appathon Showcase, with top concepts receiving recognition.
- Take home tech – All participants who complete a successful project will be awarded a Meta Quest Headset!!
- Open to all undergraduate and graduate students from Language/Linguistics majors and minors, Computer Science, and ACCAD.
What Will Teams do?
Design a virtual reality game or experience for the Meta Quest 3 that helps users master new vocabulary or grammar concepts in any target language without relying on English.
- No English
- Working prototype within the Meta Quest 3
Your ultimate goal is to develop a working prototype or proof-of-concept (rather than a highly polished product). We are looking for a good representation of the idea in a format that can be experienced on a Meta Quest headset and uses existing technologies to deliver the experience.
Hackathon Schedule & Time Commitments
- Project Duration: From Launch Date (Oct 29) – Final Presentation Date (Nov 21st)
- Launch Event: Wednesday, October 29, 2025 | 3 hours (6 PM – 8 PM) | In-person at Emerging Technology Studio
- Unity Workshop for Team’s Developers: Monday, November 3, 2025 | 1.5 hours (6:30pm-8:00pm) | Online
- Project/Team Check-in with Mentors: Friday, November 14, 2025 | 10 AM – 3 PM (each team gets 30 minutes) | In-person at 412 Caldwell Laboratory
- Final Presentations and Showcase: Friday, November 21, 2025 | In-person at The World Langauge Appathon Showcase at 6:00pm-8:00pm 141 Sullivant Hall, The Barnett Collaboratory Room.
What Makes a Great Prototype?
|
Language Learning Impact |
The immersive experience meaningfully supports learning target vocabulary or grammar through purposeful, immersive, and culturally authentic interactions. Learning occurs through gameplay and exploration rather than direct translation. |
|
Cultural Authenticity & Context |
The experience reflects genuine cultural settings, values, or interactions relevant to the target language. Contexts feel natural and meaningful to the learner. |
|
Creativity & Innovation |
The experience employs original ideas or techniques that make language learning engaging and memorable. It creatively uses storytelling, interaction, or challenges. |
|
Purposeful Task Design |
The experience’s activities are intentional, purposeful and aligned with both the language and learning goals. Interactions require meaningful use of language. |
|
Technology Use & Feasibility |
The app effectively leverages the strengths of the Quest 3 VR environment and other tools (e.g., AI) without exceeding reasonable development scope. |
Questions? Contact Cal King at king.3028@osu.edu
We can’t wait to see what teams create!
—
OHI/O, The Center for Languages Literature and Culture & The College of Nursing