Imagine your K-12 student having the ability to “hold” virtual-holographic 3D images up off of the video screen to rotate and maneuver the image in every direction. You don’t have to imagine it if your child is enrolled at Lake Michigan Catholic Schools in St. Joseph.
The school has announced today that they are taking their Live Classroom model to an entirely new level by introducing zSpace, a technology innovation that combines augmented and virtual reality to explore interactive 3D models. LMC is the only school in Southwest Michigan implementing that advanced technology.
LMC Middle/High School Principal James White says, “We are committed to being an education leader in innovation, and adopting technology like zSpace confirms that.” He adds, “With this technology, students will actually be able to “hold” virtual-holographic 3D images up off the screen and maneuver them in every direction.”
The donor-supported effort will provide educational software and eight zSpace units, each including a special display, stylus and two sets of glasses. The technology uses three sensory characteristics to create a natural, real-life experience. With six degrees of freedom, students work collaboratively “lifting” objects from the display screen to examine, manipulate, pass and rotate them with natural wrist rotation all in 3D.
For example, LMC science classes will utilize zSpace’s application, Human Anatomy Atlas, to explore the mechanics of the human body. The application will give the students insight on how all parts of the human body interact – from the inner workings of the heart to how the muscular system moves the skeleton.
Another zSpace application, Newton’s Park, which focuses on physics, allows students to better understand motion, acceleration, energy transfer, friction and change gravity states through virtual experimentation.
LMC Elementary School Principal Larry Hoskins says, “The flexibility of zSpace will allow our teachers to be able to use it in their classroom or in the STREAM Lab,” and points out, “Adding this technology to our curriculum enhances what we’re already doing through our Live Classroom model and project-based learning.”
zSpace will be unveiled this summer as part of Lake Michigan Catholic summer programs and fully implemented by Fall of 2021. Although the technology will be piloted formally with 6th through 12th grade students, it will be available to all grade levels.
Lake Michigan Catholic is a private pre-kindergarten through 12th grade Catholic school dedicated to nourishing the human spirit – mind, body and soul – through Jesus Christ. You can learn more at http://lmclakers.org.
