Virtual reality (VR) content creation, as a maker activity, can promote student agency and higher-order competencies, but is challenging to implement in the classroom. This talk will introduce our experience in pedagogy-driven implementation of VR creation and evidence-based research on its effectiveness. We will also discuss ongoing work on using learning analytics to facilitate student learning in the creation process. Contextualized in a university-level course on cultural heritage, our aim is to broaden the applicability of VR creation in different disciplines in higher education.