Inspired by the idea of “meeting learners where they are,” Dr. Schulke partnered with Curio and the University of Nebraska’s College of Computer Science and Engineering to bring her innovative vision to life. What began as a bold idea to explore the heart from the inside evolved into a full-semester capstone project where student developers played a central role.

Curio provided the technical foundation—including avatars, security, asset infrastructure, and development scaffolds—so the student teams could focus on building while still being challenged to solve meaningful problems. With consistent support through weekly meetings and collaborative communication channels, Curio worked closely with Dr. Schulke and her students to ensure the experience met both technical and instructional goals.

In just two semesters, University of Nebraska students successfully built and launched the “Journey Through the Heart” VR experience. Curio continues to maintain and update the experience—ensuring long-term functionality, performance, and access for classrooms across the country.

The momentum continued the following year as new student developers joined the project, expanding the experience with immersive modules on the kidneys and adding a Beat Saber-style mini-game. This engaging feature provides a fun, interactive way for students to test their knowledge and reinforce what they’ve learned through play.

This model—where subject matter experts lead, student developers build, and Curio provides technical support and long-term maintenance—demonstrates the power of collaborative innovation in higher education.