Abhinand Chincholi, President & CEO of OneOrigin Inc.

Advances in digital technologies that are available in the world today to support learning are among the most dramatic developments, as they have led to big changes in many aspects of our lives. Education is one of many industries that has undergone major changes due to the integration of such technologies. For both physical and digital transformation, technology is a powerful tool that is changing the way students learn.

As the Covid-19 pandemic unfolded in 2020, technology became essential, and its importance increased greatly. During this time, the role of technology in education became crucial and still continues to provide and promote collaboration between institutions and their students and educators. As restrictions from the pandemic unfold, in-person interactions, as well as virtual interactions, are connecting people through the use of innovative technologies in education.

As necessary errands, appointments and other responsibilities moved online, technology reconciled physical distance as restrictions carried on. At the same time, institutions had to rely on technology and switch to online learning to maintain connections and focus on the educational needs of students.

As the severity of the pandemic lessens, institutions have adopted new digital technologies in new or different ways, allowing everyone to connect with others as they embrace many new platforms. There is a range of ways in which digital technologies can support learning in various environments. New technologies are still being developed, and as more higher education institutions embrace such technologies, they can effectively be used to foster learning and connect people, thus reimagining the role of technology in education.

The many types of technology today are reshaping learning in all of its forms. New developments in technology across all industries have helped enable others to find new solutions for connecting people despite physical distance, especially in the education sector. Dependencies on technology have changed, and now there are tech-driven solutions that blend the physical and digital worlds.

Emerging and innovative technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and extended reality (XR) are making this possible. The use of extended reality technologies has greatly increased, and such technology is providing an incredibly immersive experience that allows for a wider audience to connect with one another. AI and virtual reality allow for a deeper level of interaction and communication, amplifying new ways of teaching practices. Virtual reality and other similar technologies provided a new method of learning inside and outside the classroom. No wonder there is a positive attitude toward it, and more and more schools are accepting and embracing new methods of teaching and learning through these emerging technologies.

The question for the future is not whether XR technology will be a part of higher education but to what degree. The use of extended reality in higher education will transform student engagement and success as it can help certain fields of study be easier understood. The presence of XR technologies is growing, and more colleges and universities are integrating such capabilities into the classrooms. These technologies can be bridged into in-person learning rather than just virtually, impacting and improving how students learn for the better.

Using immersive technologies debugs traditional learning methods by using an interactive approach and enhancing student engagement and retention. Today’s products are getting more and more complex. There are numerous complex machines such as jet engines, steam turbines and many others that can be difficult to research and understand just by looking at sheets of paper. A printout of such complex machinery would be overwhelming. How can one bring the right information about such complexions in their physical form to the classroom? With the use of extended reality technologies, they can combat the challenges students might face with understanding complex disciplines as they are able to visualize better and have access to once-out-of-reach experiences.

Institutions of higher education can facilitate the use of XR technology on and off campus. These immersive digital technologies will help promote student engagement and interactive learning materials and deepen student understanding and facilitate interaction with complex problems.

Organizations utilizing XR technology would do well to implement the following best practices.

1. Develop a clear strategy for integrating XR technology into your institution’s programs and courses. Include the goals, objectives and outcomes that they hope to achieve through the use of XR technology.

2. Identify specific use cases where XR technology can be used to enhance teaching and learning.

3. Invest in the necessary infrastructure to support the use of XR technology, such as VR headsets as well as software and platforms.

4. Provide training and support for faculty and staff.

5. Foster collaboration to encourage the development and sharing of XR content and ideas.

6. When developing XR content, prioritizing accessibility ensures that it is inclusive and can be used by all students, regardless of ability.

7. Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of XR technology in achieving goals and objectives, like collecting data on student engagement and satisfaction.

Not sure where to start with XR? Begin with these mindset shifts and first steps.

1. Adopt an innovative mindset and be willing to experiment with new technologies and teaching methods.

2. Encourage collaboration to bring together different perspectives and expertise in the development and implementation of XR technology.

3. Start with small projects to test the waters and gain experience with XR technology before scaling up.

4. Seek feedback to ensure that the use of XR technology is meeting their needs and expectations.

5. Keep updated on the latest developments of XR technology.

Extended reality is limitless and is capable of catering to any subject one can think of, improving the efficacy of education and marking the importance of interactive technology in the education sector. Some universities have already successfully implemented such technology and are changing the way in which students learn and solving the need for having complex machinery in-house.


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