One of the main goals of Innovate LINK is take a brief look at technologies and ideas that fall under the fuzzy banner of “Innovation.” Of course, Innovation is often in the eye of the beholder – some people are still discovering PowerPoint for the first time every week. I tend to look at new technology that is being worked on that may be of interest to educators, without really commenting (much) on company hype, claims, propaganda, etc. However, critical examination of those areas and others must be a part of the conversation. Audrey Watters is one of the top voices bringing that critical lens to the table. Her recent post “(Marketing) Virtual Reality in Education: A History” is a must-read for anyone interested in Virtual Reality. As Watters points out, there is a lot to question about the recent VR hype that isn’t being questioned… or is it being intentionally obscured? Anyone that has put on a VR headset has probably thought “this is cool!” But… can it really help learners learn better? What about the cost? Is it really “virtual reality”? Be sure to ask the hard questions and dig into the history and bias behind technology before investing big money or time. Also see the video above for other VR historical events (and mistakes) as well as the whole “it will be different this time” argument (as opposed to the last time it was argued it will different this time, and the time before that, and so on).