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Immersive Learning

Immersive technologies gain ground in learning, teaching

The introduction of immersive technologies in the form of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) that will allow learners to interact with simulated objects and environments to experience virtual field trips, explore physical spaces or undergo training through simulated laboratory exercises is the way forward, some institutions believe.

According to Dr Jonathan Louw, the Honoris United Universities group chief executive officer, the group with a network of campuses will be introducing immersive technology platforms at two of the pan-African private higher education network’s institutions in Morocco, the School of Architecture of Casablanca, and the Moroccan School of Engineering Sciences.

It will then be rolled out to the other colleges and campuses of the group in Africa and beyond.

“Honoris institutions are in the process of developing sustainable academic models that will not just increase our footprint in hybrid learning and teaching but are future-oriented and employability-focused,” Louw told University World News.

Towards this ambition, Honoris has established a partnership with EON Reality, a Silicon Valley firm that specialises in providing academic and industry knowledge through VR/AR solutions.

Extended reality makes learning interesting

The company will provide the two Moroccan institutions with ON-XR, an app that is loaded with features that support devices like mobile phones, head-mounted displays and large-scale digital screens for conducting remote learning and training in a hands-on, immersive environment.

According to Dan Lejerskar, the founder and chairman of EON Reality, extended reality (XR) covers allied technologies that enhance the senses, whether by providing additional information about the actual world or creating simulated worlds to increase learning impact.

In a statement announcing the partnership, EON Reality said the Honoris campuses in Morocco are EON Reality’s latest stops in its expansion into Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Highlighting the success of the partnership, EON Reality thinks extended reality technologies are the future of remote learning as they make learning more interesting. Engaging students in enjoyable learning experiences increases their motivation.

Hassan Filali, the chief executive officer for Honoris in Morocco, sees potential in the EON-XR solutions’ ability to improve curriculum delivery and student learning experience.

“Higher education is undergoing a fundamental reorganisation with a pivot towards new technology-based learning methods that accelerate and improve skills acquisition,” Filali said.

No consensus about benefits

But academics are sharply divided about the actual value of immersive technologies in learning, although that technology had been there since the first digital VR system appeared in 1966 in the form of a flight simulator for the United States Air Force.

In a 2019 study supporting immersive technologies, Dr Noureddine Elmqaddem of the School of Information Sciences in Morocco argues that, although AR/VR are not fully integrated into education, recent hardware and software improvements show that, soon, they will be reliable education delivery tools.

He said that, since 2014, virtual reality dedicated to the public has been boosted by the arrival of helmets that are both more efficient and affordable.

“The value of adopting VR/AR in education is related to the fact that this technology can improve and facilitate learning,” Elmqaddem said. AR and VR promise new teaching and learning models that better meet the needs of 21st-century learners.

But not all academics are optimistic about the future of VR being integrated fully in education.

According to Dr Sam Kavanagh and three associates at the department of computer science at the University of Auckland in New Zealand, the suitability of VR technologies as an alternative medium for non-specialised digital education should be investigated further.

Students report lack of realism

In the study ‘A systematic review of virtual reality in education’, Kavanagh and his fellow researchers reviewed 379 publications on the subject published between 2010 and 2017.

While there were many cross-cutting issues, the researchers said students quoted in the papers analysed frequently reported a lack of realism provided by the educational VR implementations. This could potentially detract from the learning experience.

The Kavanagh team also raised the issue of the costs associated with the purchase of the initial hardware and software.

While this might decrease with time, the team said available VR/AR systems are not complete devices and will frequently require expensive peripheral accessories.

But there are indications that, despite the projected high costs of the VR/AR systems, immersive technologies are here to stay and are already making inroads in virtual and physical classrooms.

Although virtual reality is mostly related to the entertainment industry such as gaming, in recent years, this technology has entered training in healthcare, engineering, architecture, creative arts and design, and tourism studies, among other areas, according to Melany Rosencwaig of the school of communication at the University of Miami in the US.

In a study conducted in November 2020, she argued that the global concept and the vision of education has become broader and, in that sense, immersive technologies can be used not to detach but to enrich the existing educational systems.

But how fast that can happen is another issue as it had been difficult to convince many people to recognise the benefits of virtual reality in learning, even in developed countries.

Africa not ready yet

“Part of the reason is that many people worldwide do not see the true potential of immersive technologies, as they are typically stereotyped as a gaming experience,” Rosencwaig said.

In this regard, introducing VR/AR in their teaching and learning models, Honoris has taken a bold step of accepting the future of technology in education in Africa, as it is the first major learning institution to introduce immersive learning and teaching modes in non-specialised digital education.

According to Filali, Honoris is committed to investing in academic innovation and exploring new methods of delivery with a strong focus on student success, a factor that was propelled by the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions that forced universities to adapt to different remote learning strategies.

What is not clear yet is whether tertiary institutions in many African countries will be able to introduce immersive technologies outside digital design and specialised creative arts disciplines.

When transitioning to remote learning became inevitable, many students encountered problems as they did not own decent laptops, or smartphones, to enable them to access learning.

In this regard, problems pertaining to cost are likely to remain a major drawback to introducing VR/AR in African universities rather than the question as to whether those technologies can transfer knowledge better than traditional learning modes.

Quelle:

Foto: iStock

https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20211121141027398

13. Dezember 2021 0 comment

Examples

Immersive Learning for medical students through VR

VR technologies will allow medical students to complement traditional techniques and allow for training in the time of Covid-19.

Proven Solution and BSMU partner to foster academic innovation and re-imagine education through Immersive Learning technologies for medical students

VR learning

Proven Solution, a venture by Proven Arabia focusing on areas including Artificial Intelligence and robotics, has signed an MoU with Belarusian State Medical University (BSMU) to implement immersive learning technology for medical students, using Virtual Reality (VR) technologies.

The educational application, which uses VR, is part of Proven Solution’s healthcare platform, which consists of a series of applications. The application is used to teach medical students auscultation- the practice of listening to the internal sounds of the body using a stethoscope. Using this technology, students will have the opportunity to experience virtually simulated lab exercises, and real-life patient scenarios, enhancing their learning experience. In the future, the technology will also benefit doctors by enabling them to examine hearts and lungs in a virtual environment, complementing traditional approaches.

New opportunities

The Virtual Reality training serves to emulate the environment in the doctor’s office and are highly effective in helping students through the examination process. The technology gives students several advantages over traditional approaches to medicine, particularly in times of Covid-19, which has limited interactions with patients significantly.

Commenting on the announcement, Zaid Al Mashari Group CEO of Proven Arabia said, “Immersive learning reflects the emergence of new technologies that are shaping and enhancing learnings across the education sector. We realise that higher education is undergoing a massive transition where new technologies are being used to improve skills. At Proven Solution, we are excited to partner with Belarusian State Medical University to introduce interactive and immersive AR and VR lessons in the curriculum and continuously improve the students’ knowledge and provide them with newer ways of learning, with the help of VR technologies.”

VR has emerged as a powerful tool for the delivery of information and can give medical students the advantage of simulating real-life scenarios, allowing them to practice procedures and techniques. Proven Solution and BSMU plan to incorporate students’ feedback for future updates and to augment and expand their partnership further. This will enable future students to conduct full medical checkups for diagnosing.

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Foto: Virtual Reality technology will offer new learning opportunities for medical students.

https://www.itp.net/business/immersive-learning-for-medical-students-through-vr

8. Dezember 2021 0 comment

Examples

Virtual Learning is the Next Step for E-Learning

In recent years, the pandemic has led schools and colleges across the world, and businesses from many different industries to switch to e-learning. E-learning was on the rise for years before this, and it will be here to stay even after the current situation has passed. The numerous benefits of e-learning are too valuable to ignore, and it has yet to reach its full potential. Virtual learning will be an important stepping stone for getting there.

Why Is E-Learning On The Rise?

The global pandemic is only one of the many reasons organizations are adopting e-learning practices.
The preference for remote working, and an increasingly global job market, is a trend that has been growing for years. Even back in 2018, more than half of employees worked from home at least once a week. In 2021, 58% of respondents to a recent Flexjobs survey said they want to continue remote working even after the pandemic ends.
It is not just employees that benefit either. Businesses can now find better recruits from a global talent pool, but training these employees by traditional methods is costly and impractical. As a result, they need e-learning tools to train and onboard employees remotely.

Even in situations where in-person training would be possible, e-learning is often more cost-effective. In-person training requires not just the time of your instructors and teachers but also a space to conduct training and all of the necessary equipment. These factors can significantly limit the scalability of training.
In contrast, e-learning tools enable trainees to learn more independently at home. Not only does this mean that students can learn more at their own pace and with less instruction time, but it also means that class sizes and schedules are not limited by resource or space restrictions.

E-Learning Challenges

E-learning has many advantages to offer in both business and education. Using e-learning tools is not without its challenges, however. There are pitfalls that organizations need to avoid to get the most benefit from adopting e-learning methods:

Social Engagement

For many people, communicating with classmates is an integral part of the learning process. As a result, e-learning strategies that neglect to provide social and collaboration tools are missing an essential element of education. This is particularly relevant in a staff training context, as trainees will also miss out on the team-building benefits of training. 27% of remote workers say that a lack of adequate communication tools is the biggest challenge they face working and learning remotely.
To address this issue, e-learning programs need a wide range of social tools that enable students to interact, work, and learn together, including:

Instant messaging
Audio and video chat
Virtual classrooms
Project management and planning tools

Distraction

Remote learning takes place in the student’s home environment, which may not be ideal for learning. This is less of an issue in a professional context where you can expect employees to have a suitable home office setup. For school and college use, however, this may not be a reasonable expectation. As a result, many teachers reported a drop in class engagement due to not having the tools to keep lessons fresh.
E-learning offers many possibilities to keep students’ attention engaged, such as group projects, games, and virtual reality experiences. Organizations that don’t make use of these tools can have more difficulty keeping students focused during e-learning.

Familiarity with Working Environments

When you train people for tasks and roles that take place in a specific environment, providing practical experience can be invaluable. Familiarizing people with the work environment, they are going into is an integral part of preparing them for their role. Tools such as VR spaces and 360-degree video walkthroughs of an area can help companies provide this experience remotely.

Where Virtual Learning Fits In

Although e-learning has a unique set of challenges, there are ways to overcome these obstacles. Virtual learning is a vital part of the solution to the potential problems of e-learning:

Increased Engagement

Using virtual reality as part of your e-learning program greatly expands the variety of training experiences and learning methods you can provide to trainees. A more comprehensive range of learning methods caters to more learning styles and keeps training from getting stale. Furthermore, VR can completely immerse students in a virtual classroom, shutting out any external distractions. As a result, both students and teachers are clamoring for more VR learning opportunities. For example, 97% of students say they would like to study in virtual reality, and 70% of teachers want to use virtual reality in class.

Social Learning Opportunities

Using virtual learning, classmates and instructors can share a virtual space while they learn or work together. This can enable students to communicate more naturally, gesture freely, and interact with objects such as virtual whiteboards. The improved opportunity to engage and interact can also help draw in the less communicative members of the group. Sharing a space is an important part of working together, so HP uses virtual office spaces to recreate the natural collaboration of a physical workspace.

Self-Learning Opportunities

Virtual learning extends the independent learning offered by e-learning, with training exercises, tests, and games led by virtual instructors. Students can practice or revise what they have learned between classes. Furthermore, trainees can complete activities as often as they need without requiring additional resources or class time.

Workplace Familiarity

Virtual learning can help trainees get accustomed to the work environment they are going to enter. This can be as simple as providing a virtual office tour or as vital as teaching new employees how to move safely around a busy factory floor. As a result, users trained with VR are up to 40% more confident in carrying out a task than people taught in a classroom.
This can be particularly useful when training large numbers of workers, as it may be impractical or unsafe to have large groups touring a busy work area. For example, Pacific Gas & Electric uses virtual tours to familiarize trainees with substation layouts safely.

OneBonsai Virtual Learning & e-learning - Virtual Reality

VR is the Missing Piece of the E-learning Puzzle

It is clear that remote learning is here to stay, and both schools and businesses will need the full range of tools to engage and teach their classes effectively. VR is one of the most valuable e-learning tools available, but many companies are still overlooking it. Despite this, adopting virtual learning tools can increase class engagement and overcome many challenges associated with remote learning.
If you want to know more about virtual learning, and how it can help your organization and your workforce

Quelle:

Virtual Learning is the Next Step for E-Learning

8. Dezember 2021 0 comment

Knowledge Metaverse Research

META IMMERSIVE LEARNING – Create, learn and grow in the metaverse.

Pioneering an Immersive Learning Ecosystem

Through Meta Immersive Learning, Meta is investing $150M to help develop the next generation of metaverse creators, fund high quality immersive experiences that transform the way we learn, and increase access to learning through technology.

Learning in the metaverse

What if learning could become a seamless experience that lets you weave between virtual and physical spaces?

Over the past few decades, we’ve seen a progression in how we learn based on the evolution of computing platforms. In the 80s, if you were curious about something, you looked it up in the encyclopedia and were lucky to get one paragraph and a picture.

In the 90s, we started to get our information from the internet via desktop computers. Most recently, mobile devices have given us access to the world from our pockets, allowing us to browse the internet whenever we are curious. The next step in this progression is the addition of immersive technologies like augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR).

The metaverse is a virtual environment where you can be present with people in digital spaces. It feels like being inside the internet, rather than just looking at it on a mobile device.

The ability to create, explore and connect with people and places that aren’t in the same physical space will open up new pathways. This will increase access and economic opportunities, and fundamentally transform the way we learn.

The metaverse will evolve into a collaborative effort between creators, developers and organizations of all sizes. While it’s still early, the climate and appetite for new modes of learning is strong. For the first time, AR and VR technologies are broadly available enough to provide daily learning opportunities. Whether it’s using AR to help bring stories to life or VR to set aside the laws of physics with friends, our phones and VR headsets provide visually stunning blends of digital and physical worlds.

The pandemic accelerated a global shift in education, with a sweeping adoption of online learning. This universal hybrid approach, which includes both in-person and online learning, has shifted access to knowledge from a traditional one-way delivery to a more learner-centric model, where classes can be better accessed online.

The metaverse will add an immersive component to this model, so we can learn in person, online, or in simulated environments.

These environments will allow us to interact with 3D objects and explore through experience-based learning. If successful, the metaverse will break down the barriers of education, inviting people to learn with others whenever and wherever they want.

At Meta, we are focused on building an ecosystem to support learning in the metaverse. This includes empowering the next generation of AR/VR creators, transforming the way we learn through high-quality immersive experiences and increasing access to education through technology. Because our future will seamlessly integrate AR and VR into how we work, learn, shop and play, we know workforce development will be critical. Since these skills are not yet being widely taught in learning institutions, we’re doing our part to start training the next generation of creators and developers.

Providing professional training

Our first commitment to teaching immersive skills needed to build in the metaverse is the Spark AR Curriculum. This structured learning program teaches creators of all skill levels how to build AR experiences using Spark AR. Today, this ranges from AR effects that are applied to people and objects, and are increasingly applied to places and spaces in the world around us.

Developing skilled creators will lead to more high-quality immersive educational content through experience-based approaches, 3D visualizations and virtual presence. Imagine being able to play with scale, distance and time as you explore both the micro and macroscopic world, or build empathy and awareness by stepping into someone else’s shoes. Immersive training will enhance learning across all industries by offering simulated environments for exploration, discovery and practice. Additionally, creators will have new mediums and tools as their canvas.

Improving technology access

To understand the true value and potential that immersive technologies can have for learning, we must increase access and opportunity to nonprofits, educational institutions and key communities. We’ll not only partner with others to ramp up hardware donations, but also invest in community educational places such as libraries and museums — inspiring people by demonstrating the possibilities for learning in the metaverse.

The excitement for the metaverse is building because we can feel the change. The pandemic gave us a new starting point, one that won’t let us go back to the old way of doing things.

The metaverse will bring together tools, technology and opportunity that will push us towards a more curious, creative and connected world.

Transforming the way we learn

In 2016, as the first consumer VR device hit the market in Oculus Rift, Meta was already exploring foundational education apps for virtual reality. Our communities have profoundly shifted since then, and we believe we can do even better for the world as we enter a new era of learning.

Through Meta Immersive Learning, Meta is investing $150 million to help develop and empower the next generation of creators, launch high quality immersive experiences that transform the way we learn, and increase access to learning through technology.

This significant investment focuses on:

Metaverse Creators: We’re developing new initiatives that will help creators learn new skills and build their careers.
Immersive Content: We’re collaborating with partners to increase the amount of high-quality educational content in the metaverse.
Increasing Access: We’re helping communities across the globe gain access to Meta technologies.
Responsible Research: We’re investing in new research that explores the responsible development of immersive technology for learning.

For a thriving AR/VR ecosystem, we must create a virtuous cycle that supports these four focus areas, creating opportunities for educators and learners. Together, this investment will ensure Meta is leading the transformation of learning through AR/VR and the metaverse around the world.

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https://about.facebook.com/immersive-learning/

7. Dezember 2021 0 comment

Knowledge Research

How New Technologies Can Help Worldwide Education

Since the turn of the century, the development and accessibility of technology have been on the rise. In the next few years, technology use will likely grow exponentially as newer and better trends emerge. As a result, most modern businesses and institutions have included tech advancements in their everyday activities.

Similarly, the educational sector is not left behind. Many schools and colleges use technology for a large portion of their administrative and academic activities. Therefore, as new technologies emerge, schools will have to include these tools in their system.

In this article, you are going to learn how new technologies can help worldwide education.

Use of Immersive Learning

The use of immersive learning is gradually gaining momentum. Immersive learning is a learning system that uses extended reality (XR) to provide an engaging learning experience. With the help of XR, students can study the whole world within the classroom.

Examples of things a student can experience using immersive learning technology include the following.

Explore the oceans, forests, poles, and various remote locations in 3D.
Discover the mysteries of the sun and the planets within our solar system in great depth.
Have an engaging experience learning the anatomy of humans and other species.
Learn more about ancient buildings, historic figures, and events.

With the help of the immersive learning experience that XR provides, students are better equipped to understand complicated concepts and processes and can pass any respective assessments with more ease. Similarly, students are better able to collaborate and utilize online research paper help for their assignment needs.

Use of Gamification

Gamification is another technology trend that is changing education before our very eyes. Many educators and learning institutions are turning towards gamification to provide an engaging learning experience for their pupils. In particular, businesses are using gamification as educational content for their employees. In addition, the introduction of new AI trends into games has improved gamification. Now, games are better able to adapt to the needs of each learner.

Increased Accessibility to Learning Resources

Now more than ever, learners can access educational materials with a single touch of a button. Within the internet, there are hundreds of platforms that provide virtual lessons to students. As a result, students are better able to optimize, enhance and personalize their learning process through flexible scheduling. In addition, most modern educational platforms are now available in several languages due to the growing need for localized content, dictated by globalization. To translate content into any language and adapt it for a foreign reader, click to find localization services.

Personalized Learning

At the moment, learners that access education via the internet continuously provide feedback along their learning path. Similarly, AI-powered algorithms can be used to compile and predict the most appropriate learning speed and pedagogy for each student. Therefore, e-learning platforms can use such technology to do the following.

Inform students on how to maximize their personal learning process.
Recommend further reading materials learners will most likely enjoy.
Provide personalized educational content that addresses the individual weakness of a specific learner.

Improved Engagement

When technology is incorporated into school programs, students are generally more willing and eager to learn. It is particularly true for children in high school and grade school because kids of such an age are constantly exposed to technology. As a result, they find conventional learning boring and unengaging. However, when technology is added to the learning mix, many students express more interest in what the teacher has to say.

Save Cost

Traditional learning systems are expensive to set up. In the first instance, buildings, equipment, and a host of other facilities must be in place for learning to occur. However, with the help of technology, computers and a few devices are enough to provide education to millions of people. For this reason, many traditional colleges are racing to have a share of the online learning ecosystem. It helps them to stay relevant as well as save money.

Conclusion

New and existing technologies are instrumental in the educational process of today’s world. With the help of immersive learning and gamification, the learning process has become simpler, more engaging, and relevant to modern youth. Students can also be given access to more personalized learning content, which is perfectly geared to help them progress in their education with more ease and swiftness. Finally, technology makes for an engaging and cost-effective learning experience, which can be shared by people from the remotest corners of the world, making modern technology-fueled education more accessible and inclusive than ever.

Quelle:

https://www.ilounge.com/articles/how-new-technologies-can-help-worldwide-education

16. November 2021 0 comment

Knowledge Research

$350,000 in funding will bring immersive learning opportunities to youth in the Lower North Shore, a collaboration supported by TELUS and the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation

Thanks to TELUS’ funding and high speed Internet technology, 10 Lü systems will help youth in isolated communities and Innu territories learn, explore, and be active

TELUS, theTELUS Friendly Future Foundation, and a team of partners donated $350,000 to distribute 10 Lü systemsfeaturing immersive audiovisual technology to schools in the Lower North Shore via the Fondation Docteur Camille-Marcoux. The 600 students in these isolated communities and Innu territories can now learn, explore, and be active, thanks to a virtual environment that connects them with one another and to activities that develop their social, emotional, physical, and intellectual skills.

This major donation includes $100,000 from TELUS and $100,000 from the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation, and follows the recent deployment of the TELUS 5G and 4G network in the Lower North Shore earlier this year, which connected 2,000 households to high speed Internet and mobile phone services for the first time. Through collaboration with the Government of Canada, Government of Québec, and the Société du Plan Nord, this network initiative marked one of TELUS’ largest digital infrastructure projects north of the 49th parallel to date, helping bridge the digital divide by connecting the Lower North Shore and its businesses, healthcare centres, and schools to the rest of the world.

“We’re so grateful for this donation from both TELUS and the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation,” said Vincent Joncas, President of the Fondation Docteur Camille-Marcoux. “Since the arrival of high speed Internet, teaching has become easier and more engaging, and our youth now have the same advantages as other students. From Blanc-Sablon to Kegaska, Lü systems will transform our classrooms into interactive spaces where students can dance to great music, practice their high-jumping, and explore the infinite spaces of the universe and the depths of the ocean as though they are actually there. It’s opened up a whole new world of information and possibilities.”

Lü systems use virtual learning spaces built around a giant projection wall, a 3D camera, and light and sound systems. Through the power of high speed Internet, youth in the isolated villages of the Lower North Shore will be connected to the Lü virtual community, and will interact with students in other classrooms around the world. The Lü environments will also be accessible to residents in all remote communities, creating a circuit of connections between younger and older generations, and diverse cultures all across Québec.

“Our multi-award-winning wireless network and Lü’s immersive technology create connections, break through isolation, and broaden youth’s horizons in the Lower North Shore,” said Marie-Christine D’Amours, Vice President, Consumer Solutions and Customer Experience for TELUS in Québec. “With today’s announcement, we’re linking our long-standing commitment to deploying our networks to Québec residents no matter where they live, with our goal to build a better future for communities and youth so they can achieve their full potential. We’re also proud to have brought together a coalition of partners who were innovative during the ambitious deployment of our technologies in the Lower North Shore and answered the call to give back to local communities.”

Since 2000, TELUS and the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation have donated $82 million to charitable organizations in Québec, and its team members have contributed 1.2 million hours of volunteer work. Founded in 2018, the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation is connecting youth to a world of opportunities by supporting charities that offer health or educational programs to help at-risk youth thrive in a digital world. Last year, the foundation, alongside the 13 TELUS Community Boards, provided $8.9 million in funding to 607 registered charities, serving more than 6 million marginalized Canadians in communities across the country.

A team of partners to bridge the digital divide

Six partners have joined the project alongside TELUS and the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation: IT2go, the Centre de services scolaire du Littoral, the Institut Tshakapesh, and corporate partners WesTower Communications, Nokia, and Madysta.

Quotes from partners:

“Lü transforms play spaces into magical worlds for children,” said Tommy Bouffard, President of IT2go, a partner of Lü – Interactive Playground. “The 3D camera and sound and light systems create giant, touch-sensitive projections on the walls, where youth can dive in to learn, move and have fun with hundreds of activities and applications. For example, they can release balloons when an answer is correct in a friendly mental arithmetic competition or become the heroes of a video game where they can explore new worlds. Sports, math, French, agility, music… We offer a range of games to suit all students.”
“The arrival of high speed Internet has provided teachers and students with additional tools to enhance the educational experience in Lower North Shore schools. Educational platforms that were previously inaccessible are now being used on a daily basis by our students,” said Phil Joycey, Administrator of the Centre de services scolaire du Littoral, the region’s school service centre. “High speed Internet is reliable and breaks down geographical barriers, giving all of our youth equal opportunities to learn and grow. We’re pleased to be able to participate in this exciting joint project with a contribution of $45,000. We’re taking education to new levels with the introduction of interactive tools such as Lü systems, which are now used in every school gymnasium in the area covered by the school service centre.”
“In a context of openness to the rest of the world, the Institut Tshakapesh provides communities with quality services in the fields of language, culture and education to encourage the success of each student,” said Tina Vassiliou, Director of Research, Development and Innovation at the Institut Tshakapesh. “Not only will the Lü systems help our young people to learn, but the technology will also bring us closer to the Lower North Shore communities, becoming a vehicle for transmitting and sharing Innu culture. A digital path from one Lü system to another will link us all together for 400 kilometres, from Kegaska to Blanc-Sablon.”
“We’re pleased to not only be a partner in building the infrastructure for this exciting project, but to also be contributing $25,000 to the Fondation Docteur Camille-Marcoux,” said Nathan Schauerte, President and CEO of WesTower Communications. “Our team spared no effort in our work with TELUS to deploy the high speed wireless network in the Lower North Shore region, braving the harsh weather and complex logistics of working in this isolated area, including incorporating creative solutions like bringing equipment in by boat and helicopter. Supporting education for young people in the region was a perfectly natural next step in our commitment to promoting economic development and connecting the communities of the Lower North Shore.”
“To bring high speed technology to the Lower North Shore, Nokia and TELUS deployed one of the largest and most advanced microwave ecosystems in the world,” said Jeffrey Maddox, President of Nokia Canada. “Our technology supports Internet and cellular services in the region, and is helping to deliver educational opportunities for local students that will enable them to ultimately excel in a global environment. We’re excited to be a part of this important community project and to donate to the Fondation Docteur Camille-Marcoux.”
“Deploying high speed infrastructure across the vast and roadless territory of the Lower North Shore is one of the most ambitious projects we’ve been involved in to date,” said Yvan St-Arnaud, President from Madysta. “We’re delighted to make a $10,000 donation to deploy Lü systems in schools in the Lower North Shore, and to have a huge positive impact on youth’s academic success.”

To learn more about Lü systems, visit play-lu.com and for more information on the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation, visit friendlyfuture.com.

TELUS is committed to progressing the path of Reconciliation in a meaningful way. Learn more about our commitments and actions here.

About the Fondation Docteur Camille-Marcoux

The Fondation Docteur Camille-Marcoux’s mission is to support the development of social, health and education services in the Lower North Shore, including support for the CISSS (Integrated Health and Social Services Centre) and local organizations in projects to improve the services offered to residents. The Fondation also supports human resources development in the Lower North Shore by granting scholarships based on academic perseverance.

About TELUS Friendly Future Foundation

Founded in 2018, the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation funds programs, services and technology for registered Canadian charities helping at-risk communities, particularly youth. The foundation provides more than 500 charitable grants annually in Canada and helps over 2 million at-risk Canadian youth every year.

Last year, the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation announced a $10 million commitment to urgently support and enhance public healthcare capacity and community response across Canada including funding to help purchase new medical technology and equipment, such as ventilators, as well as increased support for food security, outreach to isolated seniors, virtual education programs, and mental health initiatives. TELUS Friendly Future Foundation’s current priorities include supporting charities that offer health, education and technology programs that help at-risk youth thrive.

About TELUS

TELUS (TSX: T, NYSE: TU) is a dynamic, world-leading communications technology company with $16 billion in annual revenue and 16 million customer connections spanning wireless, data, IP, voice, television, entertainment, video, and security. We leverage our global-leading technology and compassion to enable remarkable human outcomes. Our longstanding commitment to putting our customers first fuels every aspect of our business, making us a distinct leader in customer service excellence and loyalty. In 2020, TELUS was recognized as having the fastest wireless network in the world, reinforcing our commitment to provide Canadians with access to superior technology that connects us to the people, resources and information that make our lives better. TELUS Health is Canada’s leader in digital health technology, improving access to health and wellness services and revolutionizing the flow of health information across the continuum of care. TELUS Agriculture provides innovative digital solutions throughout the agriculture value chain, supporting better food outcomes from improved agri-business data insights and processes. TELUS International (TSX and NYSE: TIXT) is a leading digital customer experience innovator that delivers next-generation AI and content management solutions for global brands across the technology and games, ecommerce and FinTech, communications and media, healthcare, travel and hospitality sectors. TELUS and TELUS International operate in 25+ countries around the world. Together, let’s make the future friendly.

Driven by our passionate social purpose to connect all citizens for good, our deeply meaningful and enduring philosophy to give where we live has inspired TELUS, our team members and retirees to contribute more than $820 million and 1.6 million days of service since 2000. This unprecedented generosity and unparalleled volunteerism have made TELUS the most giving company in the world.

Quelle:

https://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=281469

15. November 2021 0 comment

Examples

How immersive learning will revolutionize education

Immersive learning is becoming more accessible as technologies evolve–here’s how it can impact the teaching and learning experience

Immersive learning experiences are a new type of educational experience that can be used in place of traditional lectures and classrooms. Immersive learning is meant to mimic the real world by providing students with an environment that is as close to reality as possible. It’s designed for learners who are interested in hands-on experiences, problem-solving, and discovery over non-traditional methods like reading textbooks and listening to lectures from a professor.

There are also many potential applications of immersive learning techniques in schools. This article will discuss what immersive learning is, how it changes the classroom experience, and some current use cases of immersive learning.

What is immersive learning?

Immersive learning provides realistic settings in which students can participate in situations and simulations. Immersive environments are created with artificial stimuli such as sounds and images that make users feel physically present in the virtual world. Let’s look at some of the most common types of technology involved in immersive learning techniques:

Augmented reality augments real-world surroundings into a user’s device and enhances reality by incorporating digital features.

Virtual reality creates digital simulations in a headset, allowing users to be fully immersed in a virtual environment.

Mixed reality blends AR and VR to make virtual interactions seem more lifelike. MR enables digital and physical objects to coexist and interact in real-time.

3D immersive learning is a method that encourages extensive learning by using 3D visuals and simulations to give users an immersive experience.

How immersive learning changes the classroom

Immersive learning covers a wide range of topics. For example, it teaches people how to operate a forklift and other heavy machinery, control airplanes in flight simulators, and resolve conflicts in an office setting. Immersive technologies enable learning in nearly any scenario, which is one of the major benefits. There are several other benefits of immersive learning methods, but here are just a few:

Better knowledge retention: With immersive learning techniques, information is usually better retained than when learning with traditional methods. VR is in the top two with learning retention of 75 percent, according to a 2020 study. While lectures have learning retention of just 5 percent, and reading has learning retention of 10 percent, VR training is only surpassed by learning that occurs via teaching others, where learning retention exceeds 90 percent.

Increased motivation: Immersive learning experiences make education generally more enjoyable. With immersive learning technologies, educators can create exciting ways to deliver information. According to a 2019 study, this type of information delivery creates positive experiences that lead to higher motivation and willingness to learn and participate in educational activities.

Distraction-free world: Being immersed in a virtual world makes it easy for learners to tune out distractions. As mentioned earlier, immersive learning experiences create interesting scenarios that are usually fun and motivating for the user, so it’s easy to ignore the usual distractions that cause minds to stray from the learning material.

How immersive learning is currently being implemented

Immersive learning can be used in almost any scenario. Here are some notable ways that immersive learning is currently being utilized:

Virtual field trips: Geographic location, safety, and budgetary constraints prevent specific environments and concepts from being explored with a field trip. However, the capacity to do so with VR opens up a whole new world of learning opportunities. Field trips can help students comprehend complex topics.

Vocational and life-skill training: Certify-ED is an online school that provides VR courses that allow users to receive training in certain career paths such as welding, nursing, culinary arts, drone flying, and many other topics. They also provide courses to train life skills such as laundry, scheduling, and more.

Astronomy courses: Some disciplines, like astronomy, are difficult to understand since the material is abstract. However, VR, AR, and other forms of immersive learning can help students better understand abstract and dynamic topics.

History lessons: Immersive learning allows students to learn about historical events and places throughout the globe. Teachers can plan lessons that take students back in time to learn more about historical subjects.

Education for students with special needs: One example near to my heart is The Dan Marino Foundation. The DMF has a VR program that mimics a job interview for its students who have autism or other developmental disabilities. The ability to practice with an avatar provides them with more confidence in their communication and interviewing skills.

The future of education

Immersive learning is a fantastic method for individuals of all ages and experience levels to acquire new skills. Immersive technologies are becoming more prevalent due to technological advancements such as cheaper VR equipment and improved mobile technology.

These developments enable instructors to harness the power of immersive learning and learners to study without boundaries and reach their full potential. Immersive learning can significantly enhance learning effect and engagement, and it makes for a great learning experience.

Quelle:

How immersive learning will revolutionize education

12. November 2021 0 comment

Examples

The Great Resignation: A Call for Immersive Learning

As the coronavirus pandemic clouds lift and companies consider how they are going to navigate new challenges, workers are also assessing their options. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a record 4.3 million Americans voluntarily quit their jobs in August 2021, leaving employers fighting to keep hold of their best talent.

Companies can raise wages and offer promotions, but in a world where work has shifted beyond all recognition and technology is advancing faster than ever before, employees also want to feel that their employer is invested in their skills development. Frequent upskilling and reskilling are central to a strong employee experience but, despite this, many companies are failing to deliver the level of training that a hybrid workforce demands. In other words, the pace of change in training is lagging behind the pace of technological innovation.

“The Upskill Ultimatum,” a recent report from Immerse, examines the predictions of 1,000 knowledge workers and 1,000 human resources (HR) professionals across a range of sectors on the future of training. The data reveals that 49% of HR professionals believe that today’s training deployment is inadequate for a hybrid workforce, and nearly half of U.S. and U.K. employees are prepared to move companies if they don’t receive the training they need. But despite this, HR departments are dragging their feet when it comes to revamping old methods.

The pace of change in training is lagging behind the pace of technological innovation — we are in need of a major training overhaul to prepare companies for a decidedly uncertain future.

A New Training Reality

A new era of work calls for new cutting-edge training technologies. Immersive training platforms, such as augmented and virtual reality (AR and VR), mixed reality (MR), 360-degree video, and interactive 3D desktop or mobile experiences, have the potential to bridge skills gaps and supercharge employee engagement, productivity and retention. Armed with these technologies, companies can immerse their employees in highly-realistic simulated training scenarios, allowing them to gain hands-on experience and learn collaboratively with colleagues all over the world. We are in need of a major training overhaul to prepare companies for a decidedly uncertain future.

Immerse’s research found that nearly three out of five employees (58%) say that the use of immersive technology would make training exciting for the first time ever. These platforms also have the potential to solve critical business challenges: 64% of HR professionals believe that on-demand immersive training could be the key to solving the productivity crisis in the workplace, and 70% say that it would provide safe training in high-risk scenarios, the research also found.

But how do companies go about introducing this transformative technology at scale? Follow the tips below to get started.

Creation

Organizations may worry that they don’t have the technical expertise needed to develop bespoke immersive training content, but these barriers are being broken down as tools and templates become more accessible. With the right technology partner, organizations can develop effective programs quickly and easily in house, without compromising on quality.

Management

To be successful, training platforms must be seamlessly integrated into existing enterprise systems and processes. This isn’t just about technical integration, but also about how the platform will work in terms of organizational processes. Once you’ve proven the value of a platform to your business, there are still a number of integration hurdles such as access control, audit logs, versioning and data protection rules to navigate. However, these obstacles can be easily navigated with the right partner providing support during the integration process.

Evaluation and Improvement

The key selling point of immersive platforms is the truly useful data they yield. The granular level of insight — combining objective and subjective measures of performance — is not only hugely valuable in tailoring training to individual employee requirements, but in the continual evaluation and improvement of training programs and wider business procedures.

Facing the Upskill Ultimatum

Time is running out for traditional training methods; Immerse’s data shows that two-thirds of HR professionals believe companies that fail to employ cutting-edge training technologies will struggle to attract and retain top talent. But, although on average, organizations don’t expect to have fully rolled out immersive training solutions until 2028.

A lack of training innovation leaves the door wide open for continued departures at a time when recruiting is in emergency mode. Employers are faced with an ultimatum: Either they transform their training, or risk losing their best talent. Time is running out for traditional training methods.

Quelle:

https://trainingindustry.com/articles/learning-technologies/the-great-resignation-a-call-for-immersive-learning/

3. November 2021 0 comment

Examples

SAP, JFF Labs, and Talespin Launch Skill Immersion Lab for Immersive Learning Soft Skills

We take a look at SAP’s new immersive learning platform after its first test run.

Software group SAP knows that the world needs smart people. But, being smart isn’t always enough. A growing body of research shows that we need “soft skills” too. These are skills that you can’t read in a book – they have to be practiced through lived experience, or increasingly, through immersive learning experiences that simulate real-world situations.

To help “young learners” develop these soft skills, SAP worked with JFF Labs to create the Skill Immersion Lab, with curriculum content developed by Talespin. The first immersive learning sessions concluded in three locations around the US this summer, and SAP is ready to talk about the results.

Getting the Team Together

SAP is a multinational company headquartered in Germany that creates “software for the management of business processes.” However, like any good manager, SAP is also concerned with things like sustainability, personal growth, and wellness. To foster these additional initiatives, the company isn’t afraid to reach out to other experts and service providers.

Que JFF Labs. JFF Labs is an American non-profit organization that works with educators and enterprises to promote health and equity. Other partners of JFF Labs include the Departments of Labor and Education, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Walmart, Salesforce, and Google.

The final piece of the puzzle is Talespin. We’re not saying that no one was talking about soft skills before Talespin came along, but Talespin did a lot to keep “soft skills” and “VR” in the same breath. The company that uses AI to create VR social and emotional learning modules started really gaining steam in 2019, and hasn’t slowed down.

Understanding Immersive Learning and Soft Skills

“In short, our aim was to use virtual reality as an effective teaching tool,” Katie Booth explained in an SAP blog post. Booth is SAP North America’s head of Corporate Social Responsibility and was largely behind the implementation of the Skill Immersion Lab. “The Skill Immersion Lab integrates immersive learning via virtual reality with instructor guidance and discussion.”

To some readers, it may sound like SAP is pioneering immersive learning, while to others it may sound like they are just one of many organizations to roll out such a program. The truth is that it’s a little of both. SAP is hardly the first organization to explore immersive learning, but it’s certainly not something that we have pinned down just yet.

There are a lot of different ideas about what exactly immersive learning should look like. Further, just like with conventional education, there isn’t going to be a single model that works best for every student. As a result, every new outfit that tries its hand at it is both trailblazing and contributing to a larger understanding of what works, for whom it works, and why it works.

The Skill Immersion Lab consists of two series of eight total immersive learning modules. The first series of five modules focuses on strengthening communication and interpersonal skills in “difficult situations.” The second series of three modules focuses on critical communication.

“Probably most important is our goal to offer different program tracts to help learners achieve their goals,” said Booth.

What SAP Learned

While it was designed for working professionals, the Immersive Skills Lab’s first run, which concluded this summer, was completed by about fifty students between the ages of fourteen and twenty.

The program was rolled out in a New York City high school, a St. Paul, Minnesota youth group, and a Hammond, Louisiana vocational education program. These students were students who “do not typically get first access to technology like this,” according to SAP. That means that the students got to try something new and that SAP got results from fresh students new to VR.

“We chose these sites very intentionally. They’re in different and diverse parts of the country, ranging from urban to rural, and in different education programs and pathways,” said Booth. “This meant learners with different backgrounds, experiences, and environments participated.”

Despite the first round of learners being younger and less experienced than the program’s actual target audience, the results were spectacular. Students overwhelmingly reported increased confidence, as well as having had fun while in the platform. Most also went above and beyond, completing optional activities like checking for correct answers or repeating modules.

Skill Immersion Lab immersive learning - SAP, JFF Labs, Talespin

SAP didn’t only come away with valuable feedback about how students learned. The company also learned a great deal about how the subjects were taught. Booth commented that the VR component allowed students to workshop skills that they were learning but that they learned and contextualized those skills with their human instructors.

“This program was more than teaching students via virtual reality,” said Booth. “We found that an effective approach was in the guided discussions instructors at each site facilitated. Our results indicated that this guidance was an influential factor in students learning the content.”

What’s Next?

The next iteration of the Skill Immersion Lab should be rolling out soon, with some changes in place in part with the idea of scaling the idea for more learners. SAP also hopes that their ongoing research and learning sessions with the Skill Immersion Lab will inspire other organizations to pursue immersive learning in their own ways.

Quelle:

SAP, JFF Labs, and Talespin Launch Skill Immersion Lab for Immersive Learning Soft Skills

19. Oktober 2021 0 comment

Examples

The Next Phase For LMSs And LXPs: Smart Virtual Tours And Immersive Simulations

Summary: As learning platforms shift focus from hosting and tracking simple training programs to supporting more complex learning situations for individual employees, the demand for smart virtual tours, immersive scenarios, and simulations will grow.

Why Immersive Simulations Are The Next Big Thing

Several branches of learning and development research have shown that individuals learn more efficiently from on-the-job experiences and less efficiently from courses and reading. As workplaces, offices, training centers, and campuses remain closed, organizations are adopting immersive technologies for distance training, meetings, and even to provide customer service. According to ILO [1], 35% of technical and vocational schools are planning to invest in virtual reality already in 2021.

Up until now, virtual tours, training environments, and simulations have not been part of the standard experience of an LMS, LXP [2], or an online course platform. This is partially due to the high cost related to the development of virtual training and simulations, as well as due to the lack of interoperability between different software. Even large companies are hesitant to invest in expensive VR headsets due to the lack of virtual training content and the high cost associated with creating simulations that will quickly become obsolete.

Image-Based Simulations

The evolution of image capture and media annotation technologies has opened up new possibilities for creating VR/AR learning environments and immersive simulations utilizing consumer devices. In this case, high-quality 2D, 3D, and 360 media from local environments work as the basic building blocks of virtual tours, simulations, and branched scenarios. The visual media elements can first be enriched with useful information, audio narration, notes, and links, and then combined into immersive scenarios or simulations. Whereas previously, these simulations were only accessible on the platform they were created; existing standards such as LTI 1.3 make it now possible to embed various types of interactive scenarios and simulations in any LMS, similar to other media.

3 Reasons Learning Platforms Will Support VR And Immersive Learning Experiences

Here are 3 main reasons why we believe most learning platforms will start supporting virtual reality and other immersive learning experiences on their platform:

1. Immersive, Virtual Experiences Are The Fastest Way To Upskill Employees

Experiential learning technologies such as virtual reality and immersive simulations are already known to be effective for teaching hard technical skills such as training pilots with a flight simulator. In a recent study, PriceWaterhouseCoopers set out to answer the question of whether immersive technologies can also support the development of soft skills, such as leadership, resilience, and managing through change. They selected managers from twelve US locations to take the same training on inclusive leadership in one of three learning environments: classroom, online learning environment, or virtual reality environment.

The results of the study were interesting. They showed that compared to the classroom, learners who used VR completed the task four times faster. In addition, they were 1) more confident to apply skills learned after training, 2) more emotionally connected to content than classroom learners, and 3) they were more focused on the learning task. Similar studies conducted by internal research teams at large enterprises in Finland have shown similar results.

2. Immersive Simulations Improve The Quality Of Learning Experience Which Correlates With Job Retention And Satisfaction

Immersive learning experiences such as virtual tours and immersive scenarios are not only essential for optimal results and productivity but can also have a positive impact on retention and job satisfaction. According to a survey reported by gotoHR [3], as many as 40% of employees who receive inadequate job training are at risk of leaving their job within the first year.

A recent pilot project at a transportation company in Finland tested using interactive 360-images to train bus drivers about new bus models and the related technical devices that the driver needs to operate. Employees had requested better training materials for a while, as paper manuals were hard to read and caused unnecessary misunderstandings and support requests. The results of the project were encouraging and found several benefits:

Significant time savings
Instead of having to browse paper manuals, interactive 360-degree images of the bus cockpit were instantly available on the drivers‘ tablets.
Better communication
Short instructional videos embedded in the virtual cockpit experience made it easier for drivers with learning challenges to familiarize themselves with new bus models.
Workplace well-being
More accessible training materials taking into account drivers from different language groups were seen to improve inclusivity and overall well-being in the workplace.

3. Immersive Simulations Give Learners A Real, Safe Environment To Practice New Skills

In every workplace, employees need to constantly learn new skills, upgrade existing capabilities, or go through various kinds of compliance training. The need for in-context training is especially critical in industries where people operate in technical environments or complex service situations. Examples of these kinds of industries include manufacturing, logistics, construction, healthcare, retail, and the service industry. Dornan et al. (2019) found that in medical education, clinical practice commonly presents new doctors with situations that they are incapable of managing safely. One challenge is that students get little time to practice in real environments and situations before they start their practice. Research [4] on the topic calls for an urgent pedagogic overhaul of practice-based education.

Example: An Immersive Escape Room Simulation For Medical Students

The medical school at the University of Central Lancashire recently piloted virtual escape rooms as a way to create realistic, time-critical emergency situations for students. The pilot was led by doctors Jones and Gillaspy, who took 360-degree images of a real training room setup to simulate a sepsis patient in critical care. The idea of the escape room was to recreate a situation where students moved through a series of tasks viewing, assessing, and interpreting medical data to answer questions presented in hotspots.

Students got access to the escape room at the same time through Microsoft Teams, using channels to communicate within each group. All the students were first given a 20-minute introduction, during which the facilitators gave more context to the patient story. After this, the students had 45 minutes to solve the escape room simulation.

As the challenge began, the facilitators of the simulation were able to see that the same pressures that students would experience in a physical training room were also present in the digital situation. In the beginning, students were confused and anxious, as they became overwhelmed with new information. After a while, communication and delegation in teams improved and they were able to find the correct information to answer the questions. The simulation of a real patient situation enabled the students to get a valuable experience of how to make decisions and work with colleagues under stress. This experience makes them better prepared to deal with a similar situation in real life.

To Sum Up

Learning management systems (LMSs) and learning experience platforms (LXPs) are looking to offer more holistic learning experiences for education and employee training. The development of immersive learning technologies with easy authoring tools can bring these platforms the change they are looking for. The use of 2D, 3D, and 360-degree imagery as the base media for visual simulations allows for exploration and learning in actual work environments without the development of costly computer-generated simulations and virtual tours.

Immersive learning technologies are found to improve learner engagement, efficiency, and experience. Informational hotspots on images and videos help create structural centers for perception, giving learners the agency to explore a learning scene at their own pace. Guiding attention and interactions in digital space, informational hotspots multiply the time spent on visual media. Compared to classroom and non-immersive eLearning environments, students learning in immersive VR environments are faster than their peers.

In addition to a more contextual experience, immersive learning environments and simulations offer new options for personalization. Audio and video recordings from instructors embedded in visual learning materials make learners feel more connected. Simulations that include non-linear scenarios adapt to learners‘ choices.

Immersive scenarios are visual reproductions of real places and situations that are familiar to the learner. Embedded questions and checkpoints provide instantaneous feedback to learners who make practical choices on how to react in a certain situation. Immersive simulations from local environments allow learners to develop new skills and knowledge in a place where they can apply them in the future. Offering learners the opportunity to experience and practice skills virtually makes it much more likely that they will engage, internalize, retain, and apply the new knowledge and skills in real environments in the future.

Quelle:

Foto: HQuality/Shutterstock.com

https://elearningindustry.com/next-phase-lmss-and-lxps-smart-virtual-tours-and-immersive-simulations

23. September 2021 0 comment