Pictured left to right are Jane Grant - Executive Director of Enterprise & Business Innovation, Mark Lally - Account Director BT, Graeme Dey MSP, Senga Thomson - Senior Manager, Corporate and Public Sector BT, Douglas Adam - Senior Manager, Business Development BT, Pete Smith, Borders College Principal.
Students attending Borders College are able to utilise some of the latest learning technology thanks to a £250,000 investment from Borders College. The investment, which is part of a partnership with technology giants BT, uses the latest 360-degree equipment in a custom-built immersive classroom.
The new immersive classroom was officially opened by Mr Graeme Dey, MSP Minister for Higher and Further Education, and Minister for Veterans.
The 360-degree room creates a 3D digital projection which uses all four classroom walls and the ceiling to bring the real world into an immersive experience for students using EE’s 5G network.
Students from across the college will be able to engage and benefit from real-life learning experiences without having to leave the campus.
Mr Dey commented:
“I’m hugely impressed with the Immersive Classroom recently installed at Borders College. It will be incredibly exciting and interesting for the people who are using it, which is of course part of the education journey.
“I would imagine demand will outstrip supply as word gets out about this technology, and it’s great to see the partnership between Borders College and BT, which has allowed this innovative facility to exist.”
The technology, which pushes beyond traditional styles of teaching, will level the playing field for more rural-based construction students. It will also provide courses which increase students’ focus on sustainable building practices, as the college sets its sights on becoming a ‘green’ construction hub. As part of this focus, the college has already trialled the room with both Construction and Health-Care students.
