Inclusive XR 1.5 days Training Workshop: 17-18 June 2024

Register in advance for Free on Eventbrite: (opens in a new window)https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/920994247587?aff=oddtdtcreator

NB: As it is out of term time, parking is free on campus except in VIP/Reserved spaces

NB: Security checks will be undertaken upon entry to the building so all participants must sign up on Eventbrite in advance and bring ID on the day

In this training workshop (short programme), we will present and discuss a number of education technology and extended reality (XR) projects and use cases, primarily focused on multidisciplinary research in simulation learning in the contexts of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) and HASS (Humanities and Social Sciences) educational domains. Artistled innovation and inclusive design inform our approach to these examples. Virtual Reality (VR) technology simulates real-world scenarios in an immersive digital environment, while Augmented Reality (AR) usually provides a hybrid user experience by combining digital elements with realworld contexts. AR and VR in the education technology space have been used extensively for various research-creation contexts and serious games applications. These include educational training, digital heritage, digital tourism, manufacturing, real estate, and medical and health sciences simulation. The ongoing development of emerging technologies continues to provide educators and learners with opportunities to develop skills as end-users of the technologies and as creators of future technologies. However, more research is needed to investigate how extended reality technologies can be introduced in the teaching and learning context in terms of technical requirements and user experience aspects, especially in making digital technologies content accessible and inclusive. This training workshop will be suitable for educators, learning designers, pre-service teachers, academic researchers, graduate candidates, students and members of the community. In this session, we will look at some featured collaborative projects and discuss future research possibilities. A number of demo prototypes will be available on-site, and participants will be able to experience some of these education technology and XR projects. During the 2-day workshop, participants will learn how Virtual Reality 360 (VR360) content can be created and how to create playable experiences using Unity Engine. 

Workshop Leader:

Dr Zi Siang See has specialised over the past 10 years in the design, use, and integration of interactive media, including augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) research-creation. Zi has over 15 years of experience working within the field of interaction design and digital media, both in industry and within university institutions, nationally and internationally. These experiences include collaborations with multinational corporations such as McDonald’s, Lafarge Cement, Servier, Leo Burnett, DDB, and Saatchi & Saatchi Arachnid. He has been involved in various MOOC projects and actively engaged in scholarly research and international collaborations. His work has contributed to the development of new systems, theories, and studies in human-computer interaction, educational technologies, and inclusive design. Some of his technical research papers have been published in specialised venues such as SIGGRAPH, IEEE Virtual Systems and Multimedia (VSMM), and Springer’s Virtual Reality. Zi presented at TEDx in 2017, delivering a talk focused on the positive impact of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). He is Director of SMARTlab Oz: an Australian hub for XR Inclusion as part of the SMARTlab global network. He is currently leading the XR development team on a design and integration sprint combining novel XR experiences in the field of the BioEconomy for the EU Horizon BioBeo Project created by/for SMARTlab at UCD. He is currently a specialist academic in Innovation Design, Digital Learning, and Technology at the School of Education, University of Tasmania, Australia. 

Daily Schedule: 

Day 1: 17 June 

10.00am-11.30am: Extended Reality (XR): Recent Advances in Education Technology and Extended Reality 

11.30am-12.30pm: Hands-on Demo of AR VR example projects (Zi will set up the demos, and any other colleagues/collaborators could also join and showcase their projects too) 

12.30-1.30pm: Lunch

1.30pm-3.00pm: Virtual Reality 360: Research-Creation Digital Workflow 

Training Day 2: 18 June

10am-12pm: Unity: Level Design and Virtual Environment (Bring your own devices) 

12pm-1pm: Sneak Peak at Biobeo XR Experiences in Development Some of the projects participants will get to experience as part of the technical demo may include but not limited to: - Biobeo XR experiences on the Bioeconomy with olfactory triggers designed for the project - 

• Table Cape Educational VR https://youtu.be/H5eKw6kYPp4?si=qNQoIMpO7FFk-b0s 
• Mind Space XR https://youtu.be/Ljfx62JV7Ls?si=Mi_e1OrtjqcAd4Xj 
• Road to Birth simulation https://youtu.be/2fG98pRSXbk?si=kzqP9Uxc_MkxV4