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EDTECH: Elite Business Schools Are Betting On Virtual And Augmented Reality

The world’s elite business schools are pouring resources into virtual and augmented reality, as they place bets on the next big innovation in online learning.

Technavio, the consultancy, forecasts that augmented reality, which layers an interactive image directly on top of physical reality (think Pokémon GO), will be one of the most disruptive forces in e-learning over the next four years. Souped-up smartphones have improved access to the latest AR apps, which are cheaper than ever before, notes Jhansi Mary, lead analyst at Technavio.

The most obvious application of VR is in subjects such as engineering, where students can handle virtual structures. Penn State University, for instance, has banked funding for a VR project to bring engineers’ learning to life.

But business schools are exploring the tech too, to provide more immersive distance learning experiences. “We’re keeping a close eye on it,” says Michael Koenig, senior assistant dean at the Darden School of Business. They say VR and AR could be used to better teach so-called soft skills online, such as negotiation. It could also improve student engagement, networking, and replicate the on-campus experience — something currently lacking in digital learning.

...as prices come down as the technology improves, VR “will almost certainly be used in education”, says Patrick Mullane, executive director of HBX, Harvard Business School’s digital learning initiative.

There remain big questions over whether VR can offer the same interaction as being physically present in a classroom.

When Hurricane Sandy struck the Northeast in 2012, executive students couldn’t get to Sloan’s Cambridge campus. So instead, they went virtually, using the AvayaLive Engage technology Sloan had begun testing out a year before.

So Sloan has started thinking about true virtual reality, says Peter Hirst, associate dean of executive education — headsets. “The next generation of VR — that’s going to replace the traditional notion of sitting in front of a computer,” he says.

So Sloan has started thinking about true virtual reality, says Peter Hirst, associate dean of executive education — headsets. “The next generation of VR — that’s going to replace the traditional notion of sitting in front of a computer,” he says.

Sloan’s success with VR caught the eye of Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. Enticed, the school created a virtual campus of its own. Students on Stanford GSB’s LEAD program can immerse themselves in a 360 degree learning environment, also powered by AvayaLive Engage.

“Jumping into this space, no one knew what to expect,” says Fernando.

The results however, have proved promising. Avatars give students the chance to interact with each other more naturally than video-conferencing. Learning from peers is critical to executive education and simulation can help replicate the on-campus experience. Fernando says: “We want to make sure our participants are forming a community. And that’s as critical as the specific content of the learning.”

See the full story here: http://www.businessbecause.com/news/mba-distance-learning/4140/schools-bet-on-virtual-and-augmented-reality