The University of Calgary’s commitment to innovation has helped inspire a new method of teaching. The school’s Department of Geoscience has embarked on its latest initiative, combining Mixed Reality and HoloLens technology with the study of our planet’s landscape for a unique immersive educational experience.

One of the first courses for first-year students is to explore the river valleys in Utah. Professors and past students found the traditional method of teaching outdated and lackluster. In response, they developed a new technique that takes images and descriptions and brings them to life. Once students put on the Mixed Reality headset, they are taken on a virtual “magic school bus”-like ride and transported to the river valleys of Utah. A virtual outcrop model (VOM) or digital twin of the river valley is shown before the users’ eyes. Students have full capability to scale the model up or down, interact, and manipulate angles.

Professors highlighted some key benefits once the technology is used throughout the school. One benefit is that the virtual Mixed Reality field trip allows students access to restricted areas they normally would not have access to, such as a protected dinosaur dig. Second, this helps create inclusion for all students, as the logistics challenges of a 460-student field trip, for example, would be nearly impossible. Third, it creates an efficient way to experience as many scenarios as possible. Students can explore the river valleys in Utah one second and then be transported across the world to learn about Mount Everest in Asia.

This new method of teaching was a success, with one student stating that this process “makes education 10 times better.” This feedback was music to everyone’s ears and provided insight into how this technology could improve courses in other departments. Annie Quinney, PhD, stated, “We would love for other instructors to suggest what content would work for the learning outcomes they’re trying to achieve.” For now, this pilot is within the University of Calgary’s Department of Geoscience, but with their focus on improvement, the use cases will be everywhere.