Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google


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

  • Silhouettes of business professionals stand against a blurred futuristic city skyline at night, with a glowing digital network data connection

    It's Time for Higher Ed to Get Serious About AI Strategy

    Without a coordinated strategy that involves multiple academic and administrative units across the entire campus, colleges risk wasting resources, duplicating efforts, and ultimately failing to deliver on the promise of deploying technology to improve learning and operations.

  • humanoid robot with circuit board background

    Meta Expands into Physical AI with Acquisition of Robotics AI Startup

    Meta Platforms has acquired Assured Robot Intelligence (ARI), a robotics artificial intelligence startup focused on humanoid systems, as the company expands its AI work beyond software and into models that could help robots operate in physical environments.

  • abstract cybersecurity data protection

    Rubrik Intros Google Workspace Data Protection

    Rubrik has announced the launch of Rubrik Data Protection for Google Workspace, a product the company said is designed to help enterprise customers protect data and restore operations across Google Workspace environments.

  • digital partnership handshake with glowing network effect

    Microsoft and OpenAI Rework Alliance, Loosening Exclusive Ties

    Microsoft and OpenAI have adjusted the terms of their high-profile partnership, signaling a shift in how the two companies will collaborate as competition in the AI market intensifies.