About Dr. Shannon Putman
Shannon Putman
Virtual Reality Specialist
Education
PhD Curriculum and Instruction
Master of Education - MEd
Special Education Learning & Behavior Disorders, University of Louisville
Bachelor's Degree
Experience
Fort Knox Program Coordinator/Training Specialist
Sep 2021 – Mar 2023 · 1 yr 7 mos
Graduate Research Assistant
Aug 2019 – Jan 2022 · 2 yrs 6 mos
Special Education Teacher
Aug 2007 – Jan 2022 · 14 yrs 6 mos
Mission
Putman XR Consulting is built upon a simple question: what is best for students? As a teacher, my only guiding principles were what is best for my students, and I refuse to change how my students learn; I change how I teach.
A student has no specific age and could be anywhere from birth to death. The subject matter is of no consequence either, quality instruction will always be quality instruction. At Putman XR Consulting, we meet the learners where they are instead of demanding they be at the level that is easiest for us. Whether it is in the classroom, the boardroom, or the locker room, Putman XR Consulting utilizes the most bleeding edge technology, combined with the most research-proven effect methods of instruction, to ensure success for every student.
Accolades & Achievements
MIT AR/VR Hackathon winner
National Board Certified Teachers (NBCT)
University of Louisville Preferred Professor Award
VR Creator of 1st VRL in KY
Microsoft Innovative Educator (MIEE)
What Led Me Here
When I was teaching elementary special education, I would always start the year by asking the parents what was one goal they had for the school year. It did not have to be an academic goal, just anything they wanted to see happen for that school year. I had one mom tell me through tears, “We just want to go out to dinner.” They had one typically developing child and one child with a severe autism spectrum disorder. The noise and sensory overload in a restaurant were too much for him, and as a result, they had never been able to go out to dinner as a family.
I had recently purchased an Oculus DK2 kit and thought, “Maybe I can do something with this.” I went out to our local O’Charleys; they had this promotion that they were running at the time called “free pie Wednesdays.” It was literally that. Anyone who went there on Wednesday got a free slice of pie. I went with my new 360 camera and asked if I could film. I explained to the manager what I was doing and why, and he was beyond supportive. The whole staff and restaurant were, in fact. People would be loud and clank their plates, and a server spilled a drink on purpose. It was everything I could have asked for.
I took that footage, put it on the DK2, and got to work. Every. Single. Day. I put my student in that headset, and he had to sit through a meal at an overly-stimulated restaurant. Each day he had to make it 60 seconds longer than the day before. We worked and worked and worked until 6 months later when the family gave it a try. He made one hour and thirteen minutes. It was enough time for the family to eat and bring their pie home to celebrate later. From that moment on, I was invested in Immersive Virtual Reality.