Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality applications have seen steady growth in the marketing and product training sectors. Even the manufacturing sector is beginning to use AR/VR for employee training and development. However, the education sector is lagging in the application of AR and VR learning environments that can add significant value to the learners. It is imperative to understand the efficacy and effectiveness of AR and VR educational environments on human learning by conducting brain-wave studies. The advent in brainwave adaptive learning using EEG headbands has given us an unprecedented opportunity to bring convergence between AR for 2-D and VR for 3-D learning environments. Brainwave adaptive learning technology, when combined with real-time AR/VR visual learning, can lead to significant acceleration in the learning outcome in STEM education.

We have gathered a panel of experts from AR/VR and Brainwave learning arena to discuss the challenges and opportunities in this novel area of education and training technology.

Join us for an interactive panel discussion.

Our Event Panelists!

Nimisha Asthagiri is Chief Architect at edX where she actively drives strategic initiatives to implement an intentional architecture for the next generation of large-scale online learning. Nimisha is passionate about education as an avenue to inspire and improve the lives of many. In her current role at edX, she focuses on redesigning the platform for the future of learning and aligning developers on sound design principles. edX is a non-profit, open-source education destination founded by MIT and Harvard in 2012 and charged with increasing access to high-quality education for anyone anywhere in the world.

Jeffrey Jacobson, Ph.D., has nearly 30 years of experience in research, engineering, and applications of virtual and mixed reality technology. With a doctorate in Information Science from the University of Pittsburgh, Jeff is a cognitive engineer, a specialist on how people process information, especially for learning with immersive media (VR, AR, XR, etc.) He was one of the first researchers to use game technology for VR, conduct empirical studies of learning in VR, and use AR in museums and educational theater. He consulted for years into several industries, especially education, architecture, construction, transportation, and medicine. He is a longtime co-organizer of the BostonVR meetup group (world’s 7th largest), which has accelerated adoption of immersive technologies in Boston. Today, he is a Simulation Engineering Project Manager at SIMPeds, where he prototypes new training tools, oversees development of (XR) training solutions and indispensably contributes to our scholarly investigations of XR for medical training and treatment. Portfolio site: http://enterprisevr.com

Adam Twersky is a tech entrepreneur and strategic consultant specializing in the integration of new technologies, including augmented reality and virtual reality simulations, into practical applications for the world’s leading organizations. His studio, ImmersiveXR, has developed dozens of augmented reality applications and high end virtual reality simulations for a multitude of clients and industries, including projects in Europe and Africa. Their expertise and collaborative approach led them to be recognized by CIO Applications magazine as a Top 10 AR/VR solutions provider for 2019.

Our Event Moderator!

Nishikant Sonwalker , Chairman and Founder of intellAdapt

Dr. Nishikant Sonwalker is regarded as a leading expert in the application of computers in education. He has extensive research and development experience in hypermedia authoring, mobile learning, adaptive learning, and brain-based synaptic learning, advanced scientific visualization, database management systems, and computer simulation.

Directions

Venture Development Center, Wheatley Hall , Third Floor

For more directions, please visit: https://vdc.umb.edu/visit/

We recommend taking the Red Line to JFK/UMass Station. From 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., a free shuttle bus takes you to and from the Campus Center. The trip normally takes 10 minutes.

Taxi/Uber/Lyft: Usually GPS would route you to UMass Boston’s Integrated Science Building drop off/pick up location. Once arrived, you can ask for directions to Wheatley building or get on a catwalk (glass corridor) on 2nd floor and follow W letter directions to Wheatley building. If possible, you can instruct the driver to take you to the main entrance (facing Dorchester Bay) of the UMass Boston Campus Center.

Driving: There are several parking lots around the campus. We recommend the West Garage, University Dr W. After parking, walk across University Dr W, enter Quinn Building, go up the stairs to the plaza level, walk across the plaza to the Wheatley Building. Take the elevator to the Third Floor. Turn left, and walk down the hallway until you reach a white-walled corridor with a glass door entrance to the Venture Development Center.

From the Campus Center, take the elevator from the Upper Level to Second Floor. Turn right, and walk the length of the building, then enter the catwalk. Walk straight ahead to Wheatley Hall. Take the elevator to the Third Floor. Turn left, and walk down the hallway until you reach a white-walled corridor with a glass door entrance to the Venture Development Center.