Luke Christensen | Technician & Software Engineer
Queensland Department of Education

"With a background as a Technical Officer in Education, Luke has seamlessly transitioned into a software engineer role at the Learning and Design Hub. Passionate about integrating technology into education, Luke specializes in creating VR and AR applications aligned with the Australian curriculum. He also designs and manages content delivery systems, ensuring a seamless and effective learning environment. Luke's commitment to advancing education through cutting-edge software engineering is evident in his role at the Learning and Design Hub."

Appearances:

Pre-conference Workshops @ 10:00

[M8] 5 Nov (AM) - Elevating student engagement and understanding with AR/ VR technologies

With rapid advancements in immersive technologies, educators can now transcend the limitations of the physical classroom, allowing learning to take place in ways previously unimaginable. This workshop invites participants on an exploratory journey into the transformative potential of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) passthrough.

Participants will be introduced to the foundational concepts of VR and AR, which will enable them to understand the distinction between fully immersive environments and the augmentation of our physical world with digital overlays. Equipped with this knowledge, you will be empowered to tailor these technologies to your unique pedagogical contexts and objectives.

Witness first-hand the potential of immersive tech to transform traditional learning materials into dynamic and interactive learning experiences. You will get the chance to don headsets and try out curriculum-aligned applications and discover the extensive possibilities of incorporating immersive tech into your teaching practice.

Beyond mere theory, you will get to try your hand at creating immersive learning activities and making complex concepts more concrete and understandable. This is your chance to trial what an immersive learning experience in your classroom would look like – collaborate with fellow educators from across Asia to design your own immersive learning environment that can capture your students’ interest and attention.

Participants will:

Understand how VR and AR can be leveraged to bridge educational gaps and enhance student engagement
Learn how to integrate immersive technology into teaching practices, considering curriculum alignment and objectives
Assess the impact of immersive education on learning outcomes and student engagement to inform instructional decisions and continuous improvement efforts

Luke Christensen, Technician & Software Engineer, Queensland Department of Education

Adrian Rayner, Principal Project Officer, Queensland Department of Education