Immersive reality technology makes U.S. public school debut in East Allegheny
A groundbreaking moment in education is happening in greater Pittsburgh as the East Allegheny School District becomes the first K-12 public school district in the United States to integrate immersive reality (IR) technology into its classrooms. Developed in the United Kingdom and now making its U.S. public school debut, this technology delivers a fully immersive, multi-sensory learning experience — without the need for headsets.
The East Allegheny School District in collaboration with XYCOM, leading innovators in technology, will kickstart the first U.S. integration of IR technology into local K-12 curriculum. IR provides the benefits of virtual reality without the headset, all while promoting group participation between students.
“The East Allegheny School District is excited to enhance our students’ access to learning opportunities through new modalities,” said Mr. Joe DiLucente, superintendent of East Allegheny School District. “Partnering with XYCOM to create an immersive classroom space reinforces our commitment to providing students with engaging and interactive learning experiences. We’re thrilled to bring this cutting-edge technology to our students and hope to inspire other districts to do the same.”
IR technology offers students a dynamic learning environment that enhances comprehension by transforming concepts into experiences. “IVR technology transforms invisible and abstract concepts into real and visible ones, allowing the visualization of concepts that cannot be visualized in class, during field trips in museums and in laboratories (Sirakaya, 2020).”
With access to a growing content library of over 350,000 scenarios, games and learning tools, educators now have the flexibility to curate their own content to supplement their curriculum. Think virtual field trips to historical landmarks, outer space, the ocean floor, and even local Pittsburgh sites like the Duquesne Incline or the Pittsburgh Zoo — without ever leaving the classroom.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with East Allegheny School District on the first-ever public-school installation in the United States,” said Chad Hill from XYCOM. “Our goal is to inspire the next generation of innovators and thinkers by providing them with progressive tools to explore and discover the world around them in ways previously unimaginable.”
Together, XYCOM and immersive reality are leading the way in educational innovation and setting a new standard for learning nationwide. Any school administrator looking to learn more or to experience this technology can visit the demo space at XYCOM on the North Side of Pittsburgh.