ACUTA Journal Volume 21, Number 1 | Page 18

Virtually Seated in the Classroom Citi Bank analysts ( http :// www . raconteur . net / technology / 2016-set-to-be-yearvirtual-reality-takes-off ) are expecting the virtual reality ( VR ) market to grow to a $ 15.9 billion industry by 2019 with the market for related hardware , networks , software , and content reaching $ 200 billion by 2020 . Enhancing human interaction and engagement all around the world , VR creates a real-time interactive collaboration format not tied to social , economic , or geographic disparities . Universities can use virtual classrooms to create an immersive learning environment that ’ s very real and personalized to each student , creating places where stuby Neal Tilley and Renee Patton

What the Year 2020 Holds for the Digital Campus

Virtual reality , artificial intelligence , and big data could shape the future

Higher education is grappling with a changing student population concerned that an affordable traditional university education is out of reach . Additionally , today ’ s learners of all ages expect mobility and flexibility that technology affords them in their everyday lives to be present on the college campus — whether virtual or physical . The challenge is to create an appealing , modern learning environment that is affordable for all students . Luckily , there is a massive digital transformation underway that will make it easier for colleges and universities to create world-class , differentiated environments for students .
Universities also have to be able to accommodate students who are in multiple , sometimes distant , locations in order to build a successful student population . If a university is dealing with these or similar issues , digital technologies can help . Educators who embark on digital can create student experiences that welcome all students no matter where they are located , leveraging technology to connect each student to one another as if they were all in the same room , and providing virtual spaces for students to collaborate and interact when they are not in class . This type of collaboration technology allows universities to utilize faculty resources more effectively and offer lower-budget online education resources to students .
Digital Transformation Is Happening Now With this digital transformation , universities envision a digital campus overlay on top of a traditional campus that allows a school to reach far beyond its physical boundaries . In order to implement this , universities must transform themselves across all the key components of a modern learning environment , the core network , the devices , the applications , and the intelligent management of each so that all components work together properly . Consequently , universities will be able to deliver higher value for many of the stakeholders involved , including :
• Attracting more students by demonstrating innovative use of technology
• Lowering tuition fees
• Lowering the cost of technology ( by student and by faculty )
• Offering more innovation through experiences outside of the classroom
• Doing more with less , even under dramatic budget pressures
• Extending academic experience through the Internet of Things ( IoT ) technology
• Offering a better mobility experience
• Offering next-generation courseware
• Matching modern reliance on mobile and immersive technology
Once a university is established through a digital-ready architecture across their physical and virtual campus , then greater digital learning techniques can be adopted to position the students for success . Universities can have access to better , more actionable data , more devices , and greater mobility . And when it ’ s time to integrate newer technologies or move data to the cloud , it ’ s a much simpler process .
Moreover , city governments now give research grants for the implementation of some new technologies in a push toward “ smart cities .” A smart city is a city that integrates many different information and communication technologies and IoT solutions to securely manage its assets , including schools , libraries , etc . These information technologies include improved networks to enable faster wireless and support for more devices . The implementation of 5G connectivity is having a huge impact on smart cities , and for all practical purposes , a digital campus is simply another version of a smart city . Digital campuses can look into government research grants for implementing technologies including 5G connectivity , making technology implementation more viable for universities with budget concerns . We see a number of emerging trends on the horizon for higher education , including 5G connectivity , but three that we believe will be most impactful in the nearest term are virtual reality , artificial intelligence , and big data analysis .
18 Winter 2017 ACUTA Journal