Schools
Mount Vernon Students Launch National Virtual Reality Lab
Their solution was to give students the opportunity to work on projects that intersect many industries and have authentic impact.
From Mount Vernon Presbyterian School: Mount Vernon Presbyterian School in Atlanta, one of the most innovative K-12 schools in the country, has joined forces with Alienware, an industry leader in virtual reality and gaming. Mount Vernon and Alienware, Dell's premiere PC gaming brand, will officially launch a national flagship virtual reality lab to influence learning through empathy on April 9, 2018.Mount Vernon teacher, Marie Graham, and a group of her students began the partnership with Alienware in March 2017 after discovering the incredible impact VR has in the classroom. Their solution was to give high school students the opportunity to work on projects that intersect many industries and have authentic impact.After conducting extensive research about how the VR industry can elevate learning, Graham reached out to VR experts through social media. Connecting on LinkedIn, she shared her passion and the students' vision for a powerful partnership. As a result of Graham’s tenacity and Mount Vernon’s reputation for innovative teaching and learning, worldwide industry technology leaders entrusted the school to execute their vision, where students can conduct real-time VR research and create engaging VR content. “We’re thrilled that Alienware was chosen to be part of Mount Vernon’s groundbreaking VR program,” said Nick Savo, Alienware Product Marketing Manager. “As we look forward to the projects that Mount Vernon will develop in the new VR lab, it’s important students and staff have the best tools available to teach and learn skills needed for the next generation of content creators.” “It is so exciting to watch our students’ ideas go from dream to reality.
Our young entrepreneurs are ready to face current challenges, work with industry leaders, and make an impact in the world right now. We are helping students learn to lead in the newest fields of technology,” shares Marie Graham.One of the main goals of the MV VR Lab is to provide opportunities for students to create immersive VR content. Mount Vernon has previously established a connection with the Center of Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta. Together with students in the School’s Innovation Diploma program, the VR lab team is creating content for a new exhibit at the museum about the life of Martin Luther King Jr which will be released in time of the 50th anniversary of his passing.The VR lab will officially launch Monday, April 9, 2018 at 9:30 a.m. in the Hive of Mount Vernon’s Upper School located at 510 Mt. Vernon Highway, Sandy Springs, GA 30328. School and community members, members of the technology industry, and the media are encouraged to attend. To RSVP, contact partnerships@mountvernonschool.org.The Mount Vernon/Alienware Virtual Reality Lab is an extension of the School’s Maker, Design & Engineering Program. A key reason to create and continue the program has to do with Mount Vernon’s fundamental imperative that school should reflect real life.
Image via Mt. Vernon Presbyterian School
