University of Michigan Launching XR-Enhanced Courses on Coursera

The University of Michigan has partnered with Coursera to launch 10 new courses that will use extended reality to provide immersive experiences in critical job skills. Delivered on the Coursera platform, the courses will cover topics such as human skills, future thinking and healthcare, said Betty Vandenbosch, chief content officer at Coursera, in a blog post.

The university is developing the XR learning content using video wall technology and virtual production tools that enable creators to mix live-action footage and computer graphics in real time, Vandenbosch explained. The resulting simulations will provide hands-on learning experiences and skills training. "Faculty will be able to transport learners to prospective future cities around the world to highlight the potential impacts of electrification or help learners practice giving and receiving feedback in authentic-feeling environments," she said. The content will be accessible on mobile devices, with no VR headset required.

"Learners and learning organizations must be agile and acquire new knowledge and skills to understand, shape, and prepare for the future of work," commented James DeVaney, founding executive director of the University of Michigan's Center for Academic Innovation. "Coursera is a leading voice and platform in online education and offers easy access to millions who need to learn these skills. The Center for Academic Innovation is a leader in open learning and immersive storytelling. Together, we will leverage XR technology to bring online learning to the next level. A new kind of scalable experiential learning that allows for deeper understanding by combining learning design, engagement, art, presence, and storytelling."

The first three courses — People, Technology & Future of Mobility; Advancing Health Equity Through Continuing Education; and Feedback Loops: How to Give and Get Better Feedback — will begin in early 2023. Topics for future courses include AR/VR in manufacturing, implicit bias, nursing skills and learning experience design.

For more information, visit the Coursera blog.

About the Author

Rhea Kelly is editor in chief for Campus Technology, THE Journal, and Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • AI face emerging from data

    The Shadow AI Threat: Why Higher Ed Must Wake Up to Risks Before the Headlines Hit

    The most concerning issue with artificial intelligence may not be in the tools themselves, but in how quietly they're being used without oversight.

  • young man in a denim jacket scans his phone at a card reader outside a modern glass building

    Colleges Roll Out Mobile Credential Technology

    Allegion US has announced a partnership with Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) and Denison College, in conjunction with Transact + CBORD, to install mobile credential technologies campuswide. Implementing Mobile Student ID into Apple Wallet and Google Wallet will allow students access to campus facilities, amenities, and residence halls using just their phones.

  • cloud with binary code and technology imagery

    Report: Hybrid and AI Expansion Outpacing Cloud Security

    A new survey from the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) and Tenable finds that rapid adoption of hybrid, multi-cloud and AI systems is outpacing the security measures meant to protect them, leaving organizations exposed to preventable breaches and identity-related risks.

  • hooded figure types on a laptop, with abstract manifesto-like posters taped to the wall behind them

    Hacktivism Is a Growing Threat to Higher Education

    In recent years, colleges and universities have faced an evolving array of cybersecurity challenges. But one threat is showing signs of becoming both more frequent and more politically charged: hacktivism.