Keynotes

Jason Arday, Professorial Chair in the Sociology of Education, University of Cambridge

Jason Arday's path to becoming one of the youngest academics ever appointed to a full professorship at the University of Cambridge began with a childhood diagnosis of global development delay and autism spectrum disorder. He didn't speak until age 11 and didn't read or write until age 18. Now, he serves as Professorial Chair in the Sociology of Education at Cambridge. So he knows a little something about neurodivergence and learning. Jason will weave his own story with best practices and research about the importance of technology and learning on neurodivergence and how this transpires along the lifelong learning continuum. Explore the continuing impact of this phenomena on training interventions and need for continuous improvement and adaptations to support and develop more inclusive learning environments for neurodivergent people.

 

Eileen McGivney, Head, Northeastern University's XR Education Lab

Virtual reality has emerged as a powerful tool for learning and training, but its effectiveness lies far beyond the “wow factor” of novel technology. Eileen McGivney, head of Northeastern University’s XR Education Design Lab, will share how well-designed immersive environments create unique opportunities for learners to experience heightened agency, engagement, and motivation — key components for meaningful learning. With insights from multiple studies with diverse populations, discover how different design decisions in VR impact learning in immersive environments. Gain practical considerations for implementing VR in your learning programs to transform passive information consumption into active, self-directed exploration. Leave with evidence-based design principles to guide integration of immersive technologies, whether using high-end interactive environments or more accessible immersive video experiences.

BONUS: Experience Eileen’s VR work in the Innovations in Training Test Kitchen and in an Ask Me Anything Station!