SimHub ™: A Shared-Cost Approach to Next Generation Teach/Learning Technologies

1. SimHub™:A Shared-Cost Approach to Next Generation Teach/Learning Technologies Dr. Stephen Bronack, SimHub™ Director Dr. Fred Baus, UCG President & CEO Helen Landmesser SimHub™ Project Manager

2. Background • University Center of Greenville • Trends • SimHub™ Immersive Technology Center

3. Why use Immersive Technologies? • We have a generation of "digital natives" arriving at school and these levels of technology and access are their standards. • Many educators are "digital immigrants" and are having to adjust their concept of what learning means.

4. Why at a Consortium? • Shared-cost environment • Able to move process along more quickly • Core Value: percentage of adult population with higher education degrees

5. Developing Immersive Tech Center • Timeframe • Costs • Finding a Director • Creating an environment that draws this kind of talent • Promotion

6. What is SimHub™? • SimHub™ immersive technology center • Site for demonstration and development • Access to technology tools • Access to support staff • Opportunities for collaboration & reinvention

7. Overview: Immersive Technologies • Immersive technologyrefers to technology that blurs the line between the physical world and digital or simulated world, thereby creating a sense ofimmersion. • 21st century tools such as • - Virtual worlds - Simulations • - Serious games - Augmented reality

8. Virtual World • An online, 3D collaborative social space • Graphical representations = “avatars” • Platforms: • Second Life • OpenSim (Reaction Grid) • Teleplace • Active Worlds. • Literal or fantasy replicas

9. Example: Virtual Worlds • University of South Carolina Upstate Engineering Technology Management Program • Program included asynchronous online lectures and evening laboratory sessions • Teleplace converted laboratories and team meetings to online. • Eliminated commute for students • Enhanced instructor interaction • Platform allows for sharing of technical documents and spreadsheets.

10. Example: Virtual Worlds • Clemson University Parks, Recreation & Tourism Management • Second Life provided students the space to build a virtual representation of the Masai Mara Basecamp • Promote Tourism • Collaborated directly with Kenyan Community http://tinyurl.com/masai-mara-basecamp

11. Simulation • SIMULATIONS offer realistic experiences in controlled environments. • Pilot skill development before flight • Teacher education students gain experience with classroom management before teaching • Simulations also offer the opportunity to assess and evaluate realistic behaviors.

12. Example: Simulation LINK TO UCF VIDEO OR NEW TEACHME SIMHUB VIDEO

13. Serious Gaming • SERIOUS GAMES • goal-driven environments • educational purpose • Role Player Games (RPGs) • Immersion and group strategy

14. Example: Serious Gaming "Chirality - Chemistry 2001". Nobelprize.org. 23 Feb 2011 http://nobelprize.org/educational/chemistry/chiral/ "DNA - The Double Helix". Nobelprize.org. 23 Feb 2011 http://nobelprize.org/educational/medicine/dna_double_helix/

15. Area: Augmented Reality • AUGMENTED REALITY (AR) • GPS • Web • Mobile Devices • Real-time • Data-layer • AR technologies range: • simulated down lines on a TV-broadcast football game • viewing a painting at a museum through the camera on your smart phone and information overlaid.

16. Example: Augmented Reality • Bike Box is a mobile-media bicycle library and interactive installation allowing participants to check out cheap, durable, technology-enhanced bikes and a free open source iPhone application developed for this installation.  • As participants pedal around central Brooklyn, they are able to contribute site-specific audio through the iPhone application, as well as listen to a curated collection of geo-specific sounds provided by a variety of local land-use experts, historians, poets, artists, and other interpreters.   http://www.sabinegruffat.com/BIKEBOX/

17. Example: Augmented Reality • Research in the field of augmented reality is paving the way for a number of new applications in BMW Service. BMW Augmented Reality techniques provide ideal support in maintenance work on complex technical innovations in the vehicle. • Using special data goggles and wireless access to a powerful computer, BMW mechanics have all the information at their disposal, precisely where they need it: in the workshop, at the vehicle. http://tinyurl.com/bmwglasses

18. Grant Program • Purpose • catalyze research & curriculum development • Guidelines • Proposals < 2pgs • Impacts Consortium-utilizing faculty & students • Outcomes • Publications • Proofs-of-concept

19. Serendipity • University Applications • External Partners • Collaborative Learning

20. Lessons Learned • Realistic expectations? • Frequent Questions? • Needed resources? • Faculty Resistance?

21. Developing Immersive Tech Center Enabling champions

22. Contact Information • Dr Fred BausCEO & President, UCG fbaus@clemson.edu864-250-1111 • Dr Stephen BronackSimHub™ Directorbronack@clemson.edu864-436-1134 • Helen LandmesserSimHub™ Project Managerlandmes@clemson.edu864-250-8879 • http://www.simhub.org • http://www.ucgreenville.org