BIG CITY, BIG EVENTS, BIG AMENITIES, BIG FUTURE PROGRESS 2019  Page 24


LethbridgeCollege doing its part to prepare students for theVR/ARAge Greg Bobinec


LETHBRIDGE HERALD gbobinec@lethbridg herald.com


s the world of virtual and augmented reality continues to


rapidly grow, Lethbridge College has been working to help fill the industry need aswell as growwith the technology to improve educational practices. For the last couple years,


the college’sMultiMedia programhas been working with the technology to create 360 degree tours and VR games. TheDigital Communications and Media programfollowed and explored use of 360 degree video for digital journalism storytelling. As the technology


improved, and the understanding of howit works improved, two new programs featuring the technologywere created to help with the increasing industry demand. “TheVirtual


and Augmented Reality certificate programis a one-year programand we have worked very closely with industry to develop the curriculum and guide us in the process of the competency and skills potential employees needed,” saysMike


McCready,Virtual and Augmented Reality programinstructor. “It is awell-rounded


programwhere they will learn 360 degree video production, spacial audio, coding, creating experiences, theory and concepts around them.We will also be working with industry to develop solutions to a real world problem.” “The Architectural


Animation Technology programis a two-year program. The first year, the students learn a lot of interior design, structure and planning everything fromspacial design to colour theory. “In the second year, they


focus on architectural animation so they will be looking at developing animated walkthroughs that potential clients could actually walk through, modeling for immersive technology bases, those kinds of things,” he says. The two new programs


“It is a well-rounded


program where theywill learn 360 degree video production, spacial


audio, coding, creating experiences, theory and concepts around them.


problem.”


We will also be working with industry to develop solutions to a realworld


-Mike McCready, Lethbridge College AR ProgramInstructor


are set to begin in the fall semester and was designed to meet the current needs and wants in industry from potential employees. As the technology continues to be accepted into many different industries, the demand for creators increases and will continue to increase as within the


next four years, augmented and virtual reality


Herald photo by Greg Bobinec


Lethbridge College has beenworking to help fill the virtual and augmented reality industry needswhile growingwith the technology to improve educational practices.


technology markets are expected to growfrom $4.21 billion to $60.55 billion. “Different companies and


think tanks have forecasted within the next three to four years that the general VR/AR industry will see a several billion dollar increase in revenue and a lot of that is going to be coming fromareas that will begin to recognize the potential that these technologies offer,” says McCready. “It is more than


architectural and gaming, but everything from education, training, retail, and it is going to start to explode in these areas and with that there will be a need for people to create the content and experiences for the demand.” “A lot of these will be


coming frommarketing companies and larger brands, but they will need to hire people to work on these projects and within the next two or three years we are going to see a pretty


significant jump in the need for this content.” Outside of the programs


that feature virtual or augmented reality in their curriculum, programs such as theWind Turbine Technician programhas seen the potential of using the technology to aid their students. The programuses a 360


video component that allows students to be on top of a turbine to experience the height of the infrastructure before actually climbing up to prevent potential fears. Programs such as


Criminal Justice and Nursing have been looking into bringing the technology into their programs for situational training, butMcCready says there is potential in every programat the college. “I don’t think there is


really any programthat couldn't benefit fromthe use of technology,” says McCready. “I think the barrier right


nowis the awareness, people don’t knowwhat they don’t knowand some programs currently don’t knowthat this technology can provide improved and enhanced learning opportunities, but another big one is a skills gap, and I hope that is where theVR programcan come in.” “It’s great to have the


ideas to create an experience, but you need people with the skills to make it happen and right nowthere is a bit of a shortage to create these experiences and it will continue to growifwe don’t provide skilled labour which is what the program will do.”


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