This MediaGrid article reports the Harvard University's Interactive Media Group will host a half-day Immersive Education event, on December 8th 2007 from 2-5pm, that is open to the public and free to attend. From the article: "Educators, researchers and administrators from Harvard University, Boston College, MIT Media Lab, Amherst College and the United States Department of Education will give a series of presentations and demonstrations to provide attendees with an overview of Immersive Education and how virtual world and game-based learning technologies are used in and out of the classroom today. Immersive Education Day at Harvard is a precursor to the Immersive Education event at Boston's Digital Media Summit in January, 2008.
Immersive Education (ImmersiveEducation.org) combines interactive 3D graphics, commercial game and simulation technology, virtual reality, voice chat (Voice over IP/VoIP), Web cameras (webcams) and rich digital media with collaborative online course environments and classrooms. Immersive Education gives participants a sense of "being there" even when attending a class or training session in person isn't possible, practical, or desirable, which in turn provides educators and students with the ability to connect and communicate in a way that greatly enhances the learning experience. Unlike traditional computer-based learning systems, Immersive Education is designed to immerse and engage students in the same way that today's best video games grab and keep the attention of players. Immersive Education supports self-directed learning as well as collaborative group-based learning environments that can be delivered over the Internet or using fixed-media such as CD-ROM and DVD. Shorter mini-games and interactive lessons can be injected into larger bodies of course material to further heighten and enrich the Immersive Education experience.
Teachers, trainers, administrators and students are encouraged to attend Immersive Education Day at Harvard and participate in the open discussion periods that follow each of the scheduled presentations and demonstrations:
Enabling the Age of Immersive Education [2-2:30pm EST]
Aaron E. Walsh, Director, Immersive Education Initiative | Faculty, Boston College Speaker bio: http://gridinstitute.com/people/aew/Placeworlds: Fostering Civic Engagement through Immersive Education [2:30-3pm EST]
Gene Koo, Fellow, Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard Law School Speaker bio: http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/home/bio_genekooSchool 2.0 and Immersive Education [3-3:30pm EST]
Timothy J. Magner, Director, U.S. Department of Education | Advisor, Immersive Education Initiative Speaker bio: http://www.ed.gov/news/staff/bios/magner.htmlThe Restaurant Game: New forms of Artificial Intelligence for Immersive Education [3:30-4pm EST]
Jeff Orkin, Research Assistant, MIT Media Lab | co-Chair, Immersive Education Initiative Speaker bio: http://web.media.mit.edu/%7Ejorkin/cv.htmlPedagogy, Assessment, and Learning Outcomes for Immersive Education [4-4:30pm EST]
John Carfora, Director of Sponsored Research, Amherst University | co-Chair, Immersive Education Initiative Speaker bio: http://mediagrid.org/news/2007-11_Carfora_award.htmlVenue and Directions
Event name : Immersive Education Day at Harvard Date/Time : December 8, 2007 from 2-5pm EST Location : Harvard University Askwith Lecture Hall in Longfellow Hall 13 Appian Way Cambridge, MA 02138 Directions : http://www.harvard.com/events/directions.html#askwith"