Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College has partnered with EON Reality, a global leader in augmented and virtual reality-based knowledge and skills transfer for industry and education, to provide augmented (AR), virtual (VR), and extended (XR) reality technology to enhance remote skills-based learning and to train students in the new Simulation and Game Design Technology program.
Through EON, the college will offer a 32-week program in Simulation and Game Design Technology. The college plans to continue the program after the partnership ends.
Partnership goals will be reached in part through a grant received by the college through the Governor’s Emergency Education Response (GEER) fund for Essential Emergency Educational Services as part of the U.S. Government’s CARES Act for costs related to implementation of the partnership’s goals.
“MGCCC began implementing EON’s VR and AR technology during the Fall 2020 semester through funding associated with the CARES Act,” said Dr. Jonathan Woodward, Executive Vice President of Teaching and Learning. “This technology was leveraged to enhance remote learning to maintain the rigorous and high-quality education needed by our students despite intermittent shutdowns and reduced classroom/laboratory capacity. Through the partnership with EON Reality and with the grant provided through the GEER Fund, the college is stepping into a new era of technology-based learning, cutting-edge program development and training, and expanded learning opportunities for workforce training as well as college-level and high school students.
The AR/VR/XR technology and software for enhancement of remote skills-based learning will allow the college to provide training for its students and industry partners that will increase efficiency and specificity in training while drastically reducing both costs and risks.
“Partnering with Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College opens the door for EON Reality to help countless students and faculty throughout Mississippi and beyond, so we’re extremely excited to see their recent successes,” said Dan Lejerskar, founder of EON Reality. “We have great things planned together for 2021, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for us together.”
