AR/VR in a team-based learning environment. How is the tech being evaluated for its effectiveness in learning?

How do we break down silos between schools and departments for more efficient communication and streamlined efforts?

Keynote Gaspare LoDuca, CIO & VP, CUIT discussed CUIT’s role. We can operationalize and scale projects, help with equipment, HR, and vendor management. AR/VR is employed in a team-based learning environment.

What’s successful with emerging technologies at Columbia Medical Center?

Jonathan Kornberg, Value of Collaboration and Emerging Technologies at Columbia Medical Center, presented the various ways physical therapy, occupational therapy, dental, and nursing have implemented emerging technology for successful results. CMC has created unified communications, conferencing (live & mobile), and a 360˚ learning environment providing space to accommodate educator and student needs. The technology employed includes: touch screens with shared drives in classrooms.

What are the challenges? Finding champions who are both excited about (and using) emerging technology can be difficult at present.

In addition, content and tools management isn’t systemized, there is separation between the schools and services needed.

What are the next steps? Creating AR/VR Kits in two physical therapy learning spaces, introduce existing apps, and working with champions and adopters of the technology to bring it to others.

How is the tech being evaluated for its effectiveness in learning? Barbara Tversky, Professor of Cognitive Psychology & Education at Columbia Teachers Collage, talked gesture, diagrams, and spatial relations. When a place in space has “meaning,” gestures may be more effective than simply words. Gestures allow direct expression of thought and act much like diagrams. Action gestures are more effective for learning.