Ogulcan Durmaz

XR Instructional
Designer & Researcher

I design and research immersive and game-based learning experiences grounded in learning theories on emerging XR platforms.

See my projects Get in touch
13+
Talks & workshops
6+
XR & game projects
2,500+
Online students taught
3
Degrees & programs at UIUC

01 — About

Building worlds
that teach.

I'm a PhD student in Informatics at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, specializing in game-based learning, virtual reality environments, and extended realities for language education. My work sits at the intersection of instructional design, serious game design, and computer-assisted language learning.

From narrative-driven VR language games to international virtual exchange spaces, I prototype, study, and iterate on immersive experiences that make authentic communication the core mechanic — not an afterthought.

  • PhD, Informatics University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign — anticipated 2028
  • Graduate Minor, Game Studies University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign — 2025
  • MA, TESOL University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign — 2024
  • BA, Foreign Language Education Middle East Technical University

Member of the IMMERSE Center for Immersive Computing (Graduate Student Council), CALICO, and AAAL.

02 — Research

Studying how to enhance learning
with innovative tools.

Active project

Mixed Reality in Language Education: Global Perspectives, Best Practices, and Future Directions

With Randall W. Sadler, Eda Yildirimer, and the Mixed Reality Innovations Group (MRIG), I'm exploring how mixed reality can support language learning in more engaging and effective ways. Through Quest 3 app testing, focus groups, and qualitative analysis, we're developing a universal design framework for an MR-based language learning application — in collaboration with experts around the world.

  • Meta Quest 3
  • Focus groups
  • Qualitative analysis
  • Framework design

Language Learning Beyond the Borders

MA thesis · Principal researcher · UIUC TESOL

Investigated ESL instructors' perceptions of virtual reality by developing a virtual environment in Spatial.io informed by game-design and second-language-acquisition theories.

Sequential Behavioral Patterns in Holoorbits

With Sarvin Eshaghi & Sep Afshar

Applied sequential pattern mining (RapidMiner) to an interactive science simulation game, comparing learner behavior across high- and low-learning-gain groups.

Learner Characteristics & Dutch Speaking Proficiency

Sole author · Statistical analysis in R

Analyzed a Dutch proficiency exam dataset to identify learner characteristics associated with speaking proficiency outcomes.

Selected publications

  • A Design-Based Research Approach to Virtual Language Learning Environment Development with Graduate Teaching Assistants — AAAL Newsletter, 2026 · Durmaz, O.
  • A Systematic Review: Immersive Conversational Artificial Intelligence Avatars in Language Learning — TechTrends, 2026 · Durmaz, O. · under review
  • DIVE-L: Designing Immersive Virtual Environments for Language Learning — FLTMAG, 2025 · Durmaz, O.
  • Mixed Reality in Language Education: Global Perspectives, Best Practices, and Future Directions — 2025 · Sadler, R., Durmaz, O., & Yildirimer, E. · in preparation
Google Scholar ↗ Academia.edu ↗ UIUC Profile ↗

03 — Projects

Selected projects.

01

International Language Chat Consortium in VR

A virtual island for language practice and intercultural exchange, designed so authentic communication — not menus or code — drives the experience.

  • Unity
  • Spatial.io
  • Virtual exchange
02

Secret Wizard

A narrative-based VR language learning game prototype set in a magical world — vocabulary, listening, and grammar challenges woven into dynamic, AI-voiced storytelling. Built through the Zoe Immersive Creator Program.

  • Unity
  • Zoe Plugin
  • ElevenLabs
  • ChatGPT
03
MitGard — a low-poly virtual garden at dusk with trees, hills, and an avatar exploring

MITGARD — A Meeting Garden for Everyone

A calm, scenic social VR environment exploring how immersive platforms can support language learning and social connection through low-pressure hangout spaces.

  • Unity
  • Spatial SDK
  • Social VR
04

ENTO — After the Bully

A narrative-based educational game addressing bullying awareness through interactive storytelling — building empathy, critical thinking, and discussion around real-life scenarios.

  • Roblox
  • Lua
  • Serious games
05

Animations for Young Learners

Animated grammar instruction that teaches English modal verbs through storytelling, embedded with interactive checkpoints for real-time reflection.

  • Plotagon
  • EdPuzzle
  • Storytelling
06
Udemy course player showing the Effective Web Tools for Teachers curriculum with Plotagon lessons

Digital Tools for Language Teaching

A free Udemy course helping teachers gamify and digitalize their classrooms with animation, storytelling, and virtual environments — part of a course catalog reaching 2,500+ students.

  • Udemy
  • CoSpaces
  • Toontastic
  • Teacher education

04 — Conferences & Talks

Sharing the work,
worldwide.

2026

  • A Student-led Hub for Immersive Computing — IMMERSE Symposium · with Afshar, Tiwari, Wang & Jahadakbar
  • Intelligent Avatars in Language Learning — SOCALLT · with Afshar & Eshaghi
  • The Humanlike Virtual Other: Immersive Conversational AI in Language Learning — MWALLT

2025

  • Mixed Reality in Language Education: Global Perspectives, Best Practices, and Future Directions — CALICO · with Sadler & Yildirimer
  • DIVE-L: Designing Immersive and Informal Virtual Environments for Language Learning — CALICO
  • Illustrating Stories with AI: Using Leonardo AI to Enhance Narrative Writing in EFL — CALICO · with Sahin & Yildirimer
  • Once upon a Word: AI-powered Narrative-Based Language Tasks in Virtual Reality — NEALLT
  • International Language Chat Consortium: A Space for Everyone in Spatial.io — AAAL · roundtable

2024

  • Language Learning Beyond Borders: Applying Cognitive Behavioral Game Design to the Virtual Space Developed with Spatial.io — CALICO
  • Immersive Reality Exploration: Low Immersion, High Immersion, and Mixed Reality — CALICO · workshop, with Sadler et al.
  • A Taste of Four Virtual Environments — CALICO · workshop, with Sadler et al.
  • Extending your Reality with XR: Virtual Snacks Along with Your Real Ones — CALICO · tech showcase, with Sadler et al.

2021

  • Future of Education and MetaVerse — Flipped Impact KA201 · panel

05 — Experience

Teaching, designing,
and mentoring.

  1. 2026 — Present

    Graduate Teaching Assistant, Informatics — UIUC

    GSD 103: Basics of Game Design. Leading workshops, guiding students' game design and development with rapid prototyping, assessing assignments, and holding office hours.

  2. 2024 — 2026

    Graduate Teaching Assistant, Informatics — UIUC

    GSD 101: Introduction to Game Studies. Led workshops, guided student game design projects, assessed work, and gave campus tours.

  3. 2023 — 2024

    Head Teaching Assistant, Linguistics — UIUC

    ESL 111/112. Led weekly level meetings, contributed to curriculum development, mentored instructors through observations and feedback, served on the Lesson Plan Evaluation Committee, and organized community events.

  4. 2022 — 2024

    Teaching Assistant, ESL 111/112 — UIUC

    Sole instructor for academic writing courses for international undergraduates: designed materials, assessed writing, and supported students individually.

  5. Summers 2023 — 2025

    English Placement Test Research Assistant — UIUC

    Rated writing and speaking tests, developed test questions and materials, and proctored the EPT exam.

  6. Winter 2023

    Research Assistant, Dr. Sadler's Lab — UIUC

    Built a virtual language exchange space with Unity and Spatial.io and designed its instructional content.

  7. 2021 — 2022

    Intern English Teacher — Ankara METU Development Foundation Schools

    Taught English to international middle school students, integrated educational technology, and created teaching materials and lesson plans.

  8. 2019 — 2022

    English Tutor

    Face-to-face and online lessons with individualized materials for young learners and adults, including English proficiency exam preparation.

  9. 2017 — 2022

    Udemy Instructor

    Developed online teaching curricula and asynchronous course materials on educational technologies, reaching 2,500+ students.

Awards & honors

  • Conference Presentation Award — Informatics, UIUC · 2023–24 & 2024–25
  • C. C. Seetoo Award for Innovation in TESL Research and Practice — UIUC · Fall 2024
  • Excellent Teacher, Four Semesters — UIUC · Fall 2022 – Fall 2025
  • Conference Travel Grant — Linguistics, UIUC · Fall 2024
  • High Honor Undergraduate Standing — Middle East Technical University

06 — Materials & Creative Work

Designed to be used.

Lesson plans

  • Hero's Journey ↗

    A seven-day storytelling project for intermediate ESL learners using Spatial and ReadyPlayerMe for 3D virtual presentations.

  • Evaluating Sources ↗

    Guiding students through source reliability and relevancy for academic writing.

  • Thesis Statements & Outlining ↗

    Constructing strong thesis statements and mini-outlines for compare-and-contrast essays.

  • IPA & Intelligibility ↗

    One-on-one pronunciation lesson with IPA chart review and YouGlish listening tasks.

  • Word Stress ↗

    Tutoring session on word stress and intelligibility across syllable patterns.

Creative work

  • 2025 Mixed Reality Innovations Group (MRIG)

    Developing a universal design framework for mixed reality in language learning with experts worldwide.

  • 2025 Zoe Creator Program ↗

    Developed an integrated listening-and-vocabulary task with the Zoe Unity plugin.

  • 2024 International Language Chat Consortium Island

    A virtual space for international language practice, built in Spatial.io.

  • 2021 Erasmus+ KA3 — Digital Literacy Book Chapter

    Collaborative chapter on digital literacy and digital inequality in schools after the pandemic (Virtual Innovation and Support Networks for Teachers).

  • 2017 Effective Web Tools for Teachers

    Udemy course reaching 2,500+ students.

07 — Contact

Let's build the next
reality together.

Open to research collaborations, XR instructional design projects, and conversations about immersive learning.

odurmaz2@illinois.edu