Huazhong Agricultural University (HZAU) has put its future smart teaching space into use, using interactive XR, glasses-free 3D, holographic imaging and AI to create immersive classrooms that connect virtual resources with real teaching needs.
In an XR classroom, students can move through a recreated desert environment, observe poplar forests and Gobi landscapes, and study how plants adapt to different water, soil and climate conditions.
After attending Professor Zhao Yu's course on desert plants and environmental adaptation on June 15, Li Runze from the College of Life Science and Technology at HZAU said the experience made abstract biological concepts feel much more vivid. "It felt like I was really there," he said, adding he hoped to enjoy more such classes.
Zhao said the new space gives teachers more flexibility in terms of course design. HZAU has built high-precision teaching models for 12 core courses, covering plant cells, animal bones, operating rooms and molecular structures.
The holographic interactive space supports glasses-free 3D teaching, allowing students to observe models of animal anatomy and key surgical procedures in detail. Professor Hu Changmin said the digital facilities had greatly raised students' enthusiasm for learning.
Since 2024, HZAU has upgraded 239 smart classrooms in its second, third and fourth teaching buildings, including 54 specialized spaces and 185 application-oriented rooms.
Supported by AI teaching assistants, classroom recording, resource platforms and 24-hour learning companions, the university aims to expand AI-powered education scenarios and advance teaching reform.

A panoramic view of HZAU teaching space. [Photo/new.hzau.edu.cn]