Maine Department of Education to Host VR Expo for Educators

  • By Staff
  • 05/30/17

The Maine Department of Education wants to foster deeper learning by introducing virtual reality (VR) in the classroom. In June, the department is hosting an expo to familiarize educators with tools that facilitate immersive learning experiences.

The Virtual Reality Immersive Expo will take place at the Maine State Library, June 19 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Throughout the event, various academic institutions, schools, companies and organizations will hold 30-minute presentations showcasing VR tools that are already being used in classrooms. Participants include Nearpod, ThingLink, HP, Luccia, Bates College, the University of New England and many others. (The event website says the complete list of participants will be updated and to check back for a schedule of presentations.)

The York School Department, for example, will showcase virtual field trips on Google Expeditions. California-based tech firm zSpace will present its zSpace Learning Lab software, which combines virtual and augmented reality to deliver hundreds of learning activities.

Registration for the expo is free.

Featured

  • cloud icon with a padlock overlay set against a digital background featuring binary code and network nodes

    Cloud Security Auditing Tool Uses AI to Validate Providers' Security Assessments

    The Cloud Security Alliance has unveiled a new artificial intelligence-powered system that automates the validation of cloud service providers' (CSPs) security assessments, aiming to improve transparency and trust across the cloud computing landscape.

  • stack of gold coins disintegrates into digital particles against a dark circuit-board background with glowing AI imagery

    Report: Most Organizations See No Business Return on Gen AI Investments

    Despite $30-40 billion in enterprise spending on generative AI, 95% of organizations are seeing no business return, according to a recent report out of the MIT Media Lab.

  • stylized illustration of a desktop, laptop, tablet, and smartphone all displaying an orange AI icon

    Survey: AI Shifting from Cloud to PCs

    A recent Intel-commissioned report identifies a significant shift in AI adoption, moving away from the cloud and closer to the user. Businesses are increasingly turning to the specialized hardware of AI PCs, the survey found, recognizing their potential not just for productivity gains, but for revolutionizing IT efficiency, fortifying data security, and delivering a compelling return on investment by bringing AI capabilities directly to the edge.

  • student holding a smartphone with thumbs-up and thumbs-down icons, surrounded by abstract digital media symbols and interface elements

    Teaching Media Literacy? Start by Teaching Decision-Making

    Decision-making is a skill that must be developed — not assumed. Students need opportunities to learn the tools and practices of effective decision-making so they can apply what they know in meaningful, real-world contexts.