Welcome to the Synapsys Updater March/April where we are looking at Immersive Learning, hearing what Phil Garing has to say about the Deliotte Global Human Capital Trends. We are also giving you access to a Webinar for the FLANZ first Conversation for 2018 around AR/VR and summarising the Christchurch Launch of EdTech. Immersive Learning: Not just the look The trends in gaming are often a great indicator for learning design too. More recently we've seen a massive pull towards the AR/VR world with an emphasis on an immersive experience. Recently Synapsys worked with one of our partners looking at how we can provide more immersive virtual reality utilising a high-end headset. Immersive is right in the fact it looks great and you do get the sense of being in another world, but the bit that still leaves me a bit underwhelmed is the interaction with that other world. Sure you can push buttons and grab levers, but only the ones your supposed to, everything feels a bit too pre-planned. The VR can actually feel restraining rather than engaging. Going back to gaming, it reminds me of the very early days of gaming and in particular a genre called adventure gaming. The early adventure games were text based not graphical at all. You were in a room with nothing but your imagination and a little text to go with it. You had to put together verbs and nouns to work out what to do next. "Open door", "push switch" and then "use oil to grease rusty hinges". No graphics, no 3D, no VR, but when you were in to one of those adventure games it sure felt like you were in that room. It was a fully immersive experience, once you're hooked into that world it feels real and your mind does the rest. The best computer games aren't always... Read Nigel Young's full blogpost here FLANZ AR/VR Webinar Alistar Wickens, one of our Senior Educational Designers will be presenting with FLANZ at their first FLANZ Conversation for 2018, a joint event with EdTechNZ. Using virtual and augmented reality to improve learning. As virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) technologies become cheaper and more readily available, particularly through smartphone apps, mainstream practical application becomes more achievable. Both technologies lend themselves readily to learning, with the cost and timeframe to delivery fast approaching that of traditional elearning. In this webinar we’ll look at how VR and AR can deliver on learning needs, the future potential of both technologies as they become cheaper and more available, and some current examples of both in action. Alistar Wickens has over 10 years’ experience designing and delivering learning for organisations and is skilled at creating multi-faceted blended learning solutions that deliver change. He also has experience creating video, animation, social learning environments, facilitated learning and is passionate about the application of emerging technologies, such as VR and AR in learning. FLANZ Conversation: Using virtual and augmented reality to improve learning Presenter: Alistar Wickens Date: 8 March 2018, 1pm Format: Webinar, half an hour presentation followed by the opportunity to ask Alistar questions and online discussion Chief Executive CommentWe have the technology, do we know what to do with it? As always, the Deliotte Global Human Capital Trends challenges and informs the L&D sector. Careers and Learning is now the number two priority, well ahead of leadership development, digital platforms and analytics. Careers now average 60 years, jobs 4-5 years, and the half-life of a learned skill is now 5 years. Do the maths. We’re up for 12 different jobs on average in our careers, and faced with effectively having to retrain for each one. The same goes for your staff. Deloitte notes that amongst millennials, the ability to learn and progress is now the principal driver of a company’s employment brand. And we’re not walking the talk so well; Deloitte notes 42% of millennials say they’re likely to leave because they’re not learning fast enough. For Phil’s thoughts on what we’re doing well, and where the opportunities are, read the rest of his article here. EdTech Christchurch Launch We were delighted to lead the South Island launch of Edtech on Tuesday 6th. A large group braved ugly weather to hear from a panel representing the education, government and corporate sectors talk about challenges and successes we all share in the space of learning technologies. Genuine access and engagement continue to be challenges. It’s important to remember EdTech tools are only tools. What matters is how people think, behave and change as they engage with them. EdTech is proving it’s worth in areas as diverse as primary production, health, and education. There was a hunger for practical, applied engagement across those attending. EdTechNZ has a series of events https://edtechnz.org.nz/events/ coming up for those interested in being part of the community, or get in touch with us for more information. |