Jule Krüger

Location ZOOM Researchers The Immersive Learning Knowledge Tree is a conceptual framework that supports a common understanding of the diverse field of immersive learning. The ILKT is based on 1) The premise of the importance of developing a common language; 2) The premise of the importance of not only using similar terminology as other researchers, but also having a deep understanding of how the methods researchers utilize in their own research are similar or different from those used by others; and 3) The premise of advancing the use of common theoretical approaches and models. Since its initial inception, the ILKT has developed core concepts, methods, outcomes, and tools/instruments. The ILKT also has significant plans for future development. This presentation will provide a brief overview of what the ILKT is, what has been done to develop it thus far, and what our plans are for the future. About Dennis Beck: Dennis Beck is an Associate Professor of Educational Technology at the University of Arkansas. In his teaching, he enjoys teaching teachers/trainers how to use technology in their classrooms. His research focuses on and advocates for digital, educational equity for vulnerable populations, with an emphasis on culturally and linguistically diverse students, special education students, and older adults. In this stream, he has completed a mapping of reviews of educational practices and strategies within immersive learning environments, and he has examined the use of immersive learning environments for providing life skills training for low functioning adults on the autism spectrum. He has also studied special education parent and student satisfaction with cyber schooling, as well as the impact of homework and teacher-student and student-student interaction on achievement and student and parent satisfaction in cyber schools. In order to better understand the impacts of cyber schooling on vulnerable populations, he has studied whether bullying is pushing non-binary students away from traditional public schools and into cyber schools. He also has helped to lead the Immersive Learning Research Network, an international collaboration of scholars and practitioners who are committed to learning more about how to use immersive technologies in education. About Leonel Morgado: Leonel Morgado is Associate Professor with Habilitation, at the Portuguese Open University, where he lectures on research methods, programming, and the use of virtual worlds. He is also Vice-President of the Audit Board of the Portuguese Society of Videogame Sciences, and board member of the international research association, Immersive Learning Research Network. His main research interest is the use and development of virtual worlds as tools for learning and business, which he pursues since 2000, focusing on immersive environments since 2006. He authored over 200 papers, in journals, conferences, and as book chapters. Before pursuing an academic career, he was business and technical manager of an hardware import, distribution, and retail company, terminologist for the localization teams of MS Office 97 and Oracle InterOffice, language quality specialist for IBM/Lotus, a coordinator of Web-development and software-deployment teams, and manager of a cooperative extension team fighting the digital divide in rural villages. This event is part of the iLRN2023 Online Conference. Click here to get more information and register.

There is a disconnect between XR developers and educators. Champions in Higher Education for XR (CHEX) is a consortium that aims to close that gap by advocating for the needs of educators and excellence in instructional design in XR. Under the Immersive Learning Research Network, CHEX brings college and university educator XR enthusiasts together to discuss the needs of educators, to cultivate peer learning networks and to speak with one voice. Join us to learn what we share in common and how we can work together to help promote best practices, facilitate collaborative XR projects within and among higher education institutions and build a solid pedagogical foundation for XR and immersive learning. About Rob Theriault: Rob Theriault is the Immersive Technology Manager for Georgian College in Ontario, Canada. Prior to taking this position, Rob was a 35 year veteran paramedic and former Critical Care Flight Paramedic. Rob also taught paramedics for almost as many years. After introducing virtual reality into the paramedic program at Georgian and helping to create a VR hub in the library, Rob was asked to lead the exploration and integration of VR for Georgian’s seven campuses. Since the start of 2020 Georgian has launched over twenty virtual reality pilots in program areas such as Indigenous language learning, Veterinary Technician, Biotech, Paramedic, Nursing, Power Engineering, Events Management, Maritime Ship Navigation and others. In 2022, Rob received the Virtual World Society’s prestigious Nextant Educator Prize which honors those individuals who dedicate their work to enhancing the educational XR experience for others. This event is part of the iLRN2023 Online Conference. Click here to get more information and register.

XR Women has been holding meetings in XR Women Hall on the iLRN Campus every week since November 2020. In this panel, members of the XR Women community will describe the cutting-edge work they do in XR and Web3. They will trace their path into the field and the skills they brought with them as well as others they gained along the way, how educators can prepare students for careers in immersive tech, and how technology will shape our lives and work going forward. These women live and work in the XR future today, across a wide range of fields including game design, music, live events, art, Web 3, education, training for enterprise, brand experiences, museums and community building. You will hear how immersive learning is at the center of our activities and feel empowered to experiment with how immersive learning will impact your students, groups, and community organizations. Learning is life-long, and iRLN allows for more! PANELLISTS Karen Alexander (XRconnectED / MetaVRse, USA) Paige Dansiner (Third Academy, USA) Celeste Lear (Boutique Electronique Music, USA) Robin Moulder (3lbXR, USA) Chair: Sarah Barker (Creative Media Hub, USA) This event is part of the iLRN2023 Online Conference. Click here to get more information and register.

Virtual and Mixed Reality has gained momentum in the recent years. COVID-19 pandemic has also accentuated this phenomenon as strict constraints in mobility and outdoors activities were in place. In the past, Virtual Reality (VR), and Mixed Reality (MR) technology more broadly, has been investigated on how it affects people's User Experience (UX) and performance on daily tasks or specialised contexts. Limited research has looked on how VR/MR can be used to support conducting remote research activities. This talk will provide a short introduction on some results and insights generated through research on Multimodality and Synaesthetic-approaches in VR that we have conducted during COVID-19. We utilised a multisensory remote Virtual Environment (VE) approach to bridge the gap between the Virtual and Physical realms and between remoteness and co-location. The talk will present some lessons-learned and implications on conducting and learning from different (and novel) research practices. About Genovefa Kefalidou: Dr. Genovefa Kefalidou is a Lecturer in Human-Computer Interaction and Director of EDI within the School of Computing and Mathematical Sciences (CMS) at the University of Leicester. Her research focuses on User Experience (UX), Design and Evaluation of Cognitive Systems, Intelligent Service Design and Human-Data Interaction. Her research is applied in Transport and Healthcare and has a particular focus on designing novel intelligent personalised decision-support systems utilising Ambient Intelligence (AmI) and Mixed –Reality technologies that explore novel 'human-in-the-loop' approaches for optimisation, enhanced UX and performance of AI-based systems and services. She is a Co-I and member of the Management Board of the Trustworthy Autonomous Systems (TAS) Verifiability Node (https://verifiability.org/) where she looks on how trust enhances verifiable Autonomous Systems (AS) and service acceptance. She is also the Athena SWAN Lead and Ethics Officer at CMS. This event is part of the iLRN2023 Online Conference. Click here to get more information and register.

Lets delve into the Metaverse concept and explore it through a Latin American lens. Join me as we embark on a journey to discover how Latin American culture, creativity, and innovation are influencing and shaping the metaverse landscape. About Juan Manuel Escobar: Producer, director and advisor in Virtual and Augmented Reality projects, passionate about connecting the immersive reality industry in Colombia and Latam and promoting immersive and interactive media for its application in multiple industries. Co-founder of Aroa Studio, Creator of the XR Latam network, Co-founder of the Colombian Association of Immersive and Emerging Realities XRCOL and active member of the Immersive Learning Research Network chapter Colombia. B.F.A in Visual Arts , and previously Producer and Director of Documentaries and Life-Style. Professor of Virtual and Augmented Reality in postgraduate programs. Immersive Realities and Metaverse speaker. This event is part of the iLRN2023 Online Conference. Click here to get more information and register.