The technological advancement in education has lagged behind other industries. Yet there are technologies available that would transform the classroom, the lecture hall, or even a person’s home, and ultimately transform learning.
The Future of Management Education Alliance wants to bring these technologies to the learners of the 21st century. The alliance is headed up by the Imperial College Business School who plan to introduce hologram technology to their MBA students.
The Imperial College Business School has an educational technology lab (Edtech Lab) that assists the school find the kinds of technologies that would better train the students at the institution.
David Lefevre, director of Imperial’s Edtech Lab said: “This gives our teaching staff a sense of presence when talking with students. Otherwise we might as well run a lecture on Zoom.”
Zoom is video conferencing software employed by some institutions to reach their students via the internet and conduct lectures virtually.
Emmanuel Métais, Edtech Labs’ dean told Financial Times:
“This initiative reflects our commitment to be at the forefront of innovation, not only to provide students with a better learning experience but to make them succeed in a fast-changing world. At Edhec, we believe that excellence and innovation are the two pillars on which our people build their own personalities and careers to make an impact on the world.”
Built by engineers, for engineers?
The hologram technology was developed by Canadian company AHRT Media.
Holographic technology can be leveraged to teach students while a lecturer is on the other side of the world. And the technology has come down in price.
It is not inconceivable to think that students may be taught by lecturers who would appear as holograms. And engineering scholars might need it most. Through simulation technology (virtual and augmented reality) engineers can be taught in virtual spaces.
Source; Source: Imperial College Business School
Even though the technology has not been directly targeted at engineering education, it will be in the next few years. Lefevre concludes:
“Introducing hologram technology to the classroom will break down the limitations of traditional teaching by creating an interactive experience that benefits both students and academics. Rather than replacing or reducing real-life lectures, the hologram technology will provide greater flexibility for academics by enabling them to continue teaching whilst travelling, ensuring consistency and quality for students.”
Works Cited
Moules, Jonathan. “MBA Students to Be Offered Hologram Lectures.” Financial Times, Financial Times, 1 Nov. 2018, www.ft.com/content/01749584-dcf9-11e8-8f50-cbae5495d92b.
Singleton, Laura. “Imperial College Business School to Offer Live Lectures via Hologram | Imperial News | Imperial College London.” Imperial News, 2 Nov. 2018, www.imperial.ac.uk/news/188851/imperial-college-business-school-offer-live/.