On the 8th of March 2024, educators, technical experts, and students convened at the CloudClass Conference at the Open University of The Netherlands (OU) to delve into the sphere of virtual technology and its applications in education. The event, which marked the culmination of the CloudClass project, aimed to explore how virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) technologies could revolutionize teaching and learning experiences.
After the warm welcome to the attendees by Prof. Renate de Groot (OU), the morning session commenced with an insightful presentation by Francisco Ibáñez from Brainstorm Multimedia, who shed light on the journey of adapting virtual solutions from television and cinema to the educational sphere. Ibáñez underscored the strategic shift in redefining products to cater not only to the creative industry but also to education.
Following this, Roi Mendez and Rocío del Pilar Sosa from the University of Santiago de Compostela presented the findings encapsulated in the white book of teaching through virtual TV sets, a culmination of experiences from the CloudClass project. This manual of good practices serves as a guide for educators in creating engaging educational content using virtual TV sets, exemplified through the CloudClass software.
Prof. de Groot followed by delving into the applied research designs aimed at verifying and validating CloudClass. Through scientific studies, Renate elucidated the needs of teachers, educational developers, and managers in implementing CloudClass in various educational settings, along with showcasing different use cases to investigate its effectiveness on student motivation and engagement.
Jim Playfoot from White Loop wrapped up the morning session by exploring the journey of transitioning CloudClass from a project to a product. Playfoot elaborated on the challenges and opportunities inherent in launching an educational product like CloudClass, sharing insights garnered through the project’s endeavors.
In the afternoon, attendees had the opportunity to participate in parallel workshops catering to different interests. These workshops, chaired by Prof. Elena Llorca from the University of Alicante, Katheryna Holubinka (OU) and Roland Klmeke (OU), ranged from panel discussions with teachers sharing their CloudClass experiences to hands-on lab tours showcasing new immersive technologies available at Open Universiteit.
The closing session featured a lively Q&A session moderated by Renate de Groot, wherein experts delved into technical, feasibility, pedagogical, and developmental aspects of immersive technologies in education, drawing from experiences gained through the CloudClass project.
With insightful discussions, practical demonstrations, and collaborative workshops, the CloudClass Conference provided a platform for educators to explore the potential of immersive technologies in revolutionizing teaching and learning experiences. As the event concluded, it left attendees with a deeper understanding and renewed enthusiasm for integrating innovative technologies into educational practices, paving the way for a more engaging and effective learning journey.
