Georgian College

35 GEORGIANVIEW SPRING 2023 TECHNOLOGy | Rob Theriault, immersive technology manager and professor | Bodyswaps uses VR and artificial intelligence to empower learners. | Daniela Pandza, Academic Program Technologist, tests out Bodyswaps at the Barrie Campus. "Through augmented, mixed and virtual reality, our students are getting as close as possible to hands-on learning situations that might otherwise be too dangerous, too expensive, or even impossible to replicate – ultimately better preparing them to excel from day one." After securing VR headsets for the paramedicine program, Rob wanted to get the technology into the hands of as many Georgian students as possible, finding early adopters among his fellow faculty members willing to participate in short pilots with small groups. The first of these pilots was with Indigenous Studies, where the technology was used to create an innovative virtual house for students to explore and interact with everyday terms in the Annisnaabemowin language. Since then, there have been more than 20 pilots spanning various trades, events and tourism, and even massage therapy, with XR now fully integrated into two programs. Rob sees a bright future for immersive technology at Georgian. "We're still in the early days, but research shows students learning through XR are more likely to retain information and feel confident in their job-ready skills. This isn't just a fad – it's the future of education."

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