In a beautifully kitted out room in central Paris, Colin Fillaudeau is teaching a group of youngsters how to build in Mixed Reality.

Even though my French is far from perfect and I’m unfamiliar with the program he’s using, I’m able to follow along quite well, and the same is certainly true for the 14 year olds in the room, who have come here for the day from a deprived area on the outskirts of Paris.

This room – which resembles an open-plan tech start-up office with its multiple screens, robots, VR headsets and Minecraft plush toys and LEGO – and the 3D design concepts they are learning, literally represent a gateway into another world for these students.

This room represents a gateway into another world for these students #E2 #MicrosoftEDU
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It is often said that in order to address the world’s chronic digital skills problem we need to address an endemic gap in access and opportunity rather than talent or skills. The truth of that becomes abundantly clear when you observe the eagerness and engagement with which these students embrace the opportunity extended to them by such initiatives.

Microsoft's immersive classroom sits within the company’s French Headquarters in Paris #E2 #MicrosoftEDU
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Favreau is a Learning Consultant working with Microsoft, and this “immersive classroom” sits within the company’s French Headquarters. It is open for schools to experiment with incorporating digital tools in learning, and has facilitated the delivery of more than 60 free workshops for over 1000 students since opening in 2018.

These digital tools, they’re keen to emphasize, are not just the company’s own, as only about 20% of the tech in the room is Microsoft’s.

The class I was observing was called 3D conception & Mixed Reality, and it incorporates Paint 3D, HoloLens and other Mixed Reality headsets, and 3D printing. Other activities also explore coding and robotics using tools such as Minecraft and Artificial intelligence, where students get to build their own chatbot.

The immersive classroom is open for schools to experiment with incorporating digital tools in learning, and has facilitated the delivery of more than 60 free workshops for over 1000 students since opening in 2018 #E2 #MicrosoftEDU
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The class I was observing was called 3D conception & Mixed Reality #E2 #MicrosoftEDU
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As the market for immersive technology continues to grow in the coming years, the already existing issues around a shortage of creative and skilled tech talent is only going to be compounded unless we start building purposeful learning pipelines that start teaching students like the ones I met in Paris not only the relevant skills, but the right mindset.

What it comes down to is that it’s very much in the interest of companies like Microsoft to foster such initiatives, as they are reliant on building and expanding that talent pipeline for their future survival #E2 #MicrosoftEDU
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To create compelling content in a fast-evolving new medium such as Mixed Reality, you need what’s called a “growth mindset” that builds grit and a tolerance for failure. This does not mean ignoring your mistakes or being blind to shortcomings, but recognizing that success is incremental, and that iterating and improving your approach is an essential part of building a successful product. That means finding out what doesn’t work can be as (or more) valuable than finding out what does.

This broader trend is sometimes also referred to as Social Emotional Learning – an emphasis on the whole package of preparing a human being for work and society. Looking around at a room where young people who were handling these tools for the first time managed to produce interesting and workable content, it’s clear that the approach is one that is much more suitable for getting them ready to tackle the challenges of a modern workplace than traditional schooling.

To create compelling content in a fast-evolving new medium such as Mixed Reality, you need to cultivate a growth mindset #E2 #MicrosoftEDU
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What it comes down to is that it’s very much in the interest of companies like Microsoft to foster such initiatives, as they are reliant on building and expanding that talent pipeline for their future survival. But in doing so they can also help to address many of the issues around access and inequality that have long plagued the tech industry, even if it’s just because – as a CEO once told me at a conference – “there just aren’t enough white guys in the world to do all these jobs.”

This article originally appeared on The Next Web

Stepping into the immersive classroom https://t.co/j82tCZOPjF

— TNWRSS (@tnwrss) April 3, 2019

Tech Trends offers a broad range of Digital Consultancy services to guide companies, individuals and brands in effectively leveraging existing and emerging technologies in their business strategy.

Alice Bonasio is a VR and Digital Transformation Consultant and Tech Trends’ Editor in Chief. She also regularly writes for Fast Company, Ars Technica, Quartz, Wired and others. You can follow @alicebonasio on Twitter, connect with her on LinkedIn or subscribe to her Inside VR/AR Newletter for all the latest curated immersive news.  

The post The Mixed Reality Classroom appeared first on Tech Trends.

Vice President of Education at Microsoft Anthony Salcito will talk about the future of education, AI and how Microsoft wants to support the critical role of educators. #E2 #MicrosoftEdu
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It’s always a delight to come back to the City of Lights, but Tech Trends are also excited to check out some really interesting EdTech discussions which will take place this week in the annual global showcase hosted by Microsoft.

It's always a delight to come back to the City of Lights #E2 #MicrosoftEdu
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Jean-Phillipe Courtois, EVP and President, Microsoft Global Sales, Marketing & Operations at Microsoft will welcome attendees to Paris #E2 #MicrosoftEdu
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The keynote session will kick off with marvel and funfair with world-renowned Parisian performance artists.  Then,Jean-Phillipe Courtois, EVP and President, Microsoft Global Sales, Marketing & Operations at Microsoft will welcome attendees to Paris.  Next,Gabriel Attal(@GabrielAttal), the Secretary of State for Education and Youth will share what our host country, France, is focused on.

We’re ready for #E2 #Road2E2 #MicrosoftEdu @MicrosoftEDU pic.twitter.com/hGQlivBVLy

— Nam Ngo Thanh (@mrnamvas) March 31, 2019

We will also join Vice President of Education at Microsoft Anthony Salcito as he talks about the future of education, AI and how Microsoft wants to support you in your critical role as educators. Joey Taralson, Flipgrid, will explore the power of community as he shares the story of educators empowering learners.

In lovely Paris for this year’s #E2 by #MicrosoftEdu #Microsoft pic.twitter.com/weFXSg7nMr

— Alice Bonasio (@alicebonasio) April 1, 2019

Tech Trends are excited to check out some really interesting EdTech discussions which will take place this week in the annual global showcase hosted by Microsoft #E2 #MicrosoftEdu
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Anthony Salcito authors Daily Edventures , highlighting inspiring stories of educators, students, education thought leaders and school leaders from around the world.

Karey Killian, Teacher-Librarian from Pennsylvania will talk about how her role as a school librarian is so critical and how Skype in the Classroom, maker spaces, and Flipgrid, along with many other tools to engage her learners.

Brianna Gopaul, a 15 year old student from Toronto Canada, will dive into her incredible project she developed using AI #E2 #MicrosoftEdu
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Finally, Anthony will reveal some exciting new features coming for Teams and MIE ExpertsVineeta Garg(India), Michael Fleischhacker (Austria), and Steve Crapnell (Australia) will demo the power of VR/MR, Forms and Immersive Reader in the classroom.

@WCED_CTLI @KarenR_Dudley18 @WCED_eCulture @vanvuurenanita @elzetteb Excitement is building as MiE and Leaders are arriving from all over the world attending #E2 event in Paris pic.twitter.com/7oBNC0zcO8

— Christelle (@christellebark) April 1, 2019

Stéphane Cloâtre, French MIE Expert and Global Minecraft Mentor, will share how his students are using Minecraft: Education Edition to study the past and the future of architecture.

Michael Fleischhacker and Steve Crapnell will demo the power of VR/MR, Forms and Immersive Reader in the classroom #E2 #MicrosoftEdu
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Meredith Roe, Virtual School Program Manager of Catholic Education Western Australia (CEWA), will discuss how Microsoft Teams has become an integral part of their thriving system of online learning and give you best practices for using Teams to deliver online education experiences.

Well, hello Paris. Such a gorgeous evening here. #Road2E2 #e2 #MIEExpert @TabletAcademyUK pic.twitter.com/wzwE6Zaify

— Samantha O’Leary (@SOLeary_edu) March 31, 2019

Alexa Joyce (Microsoft), will have a conversation with world-leading education thinkers from UNESCO and François Taddei (Centre for Interdisciplinary Research) on transforming education across the world to create a global learning community, able to address the challenges of the future. Carrie Patterson, Chief Operations Director at WE Charity, will reveal how schools have inspired action through service learning through WE.org. (hosted by Christina Thoresen)

Brianna Gopaul, a 15 year old student from Toronto Canada, will dive into her incredible project she developed using AI.

Does Buddy qualify for #E2 in Paris @TinaLEJones …. he is French after all!! Hope you are all having the most incredible time! Congrats @NG_RF_digitech for flying the @LGfL flag pic.twitter.com/MTAlK0ivCj

— Jose Kingsley (@JoseKingsleyEDU) April 1, 2019

Tech Trends offers a broad range of Digital Consultancy services to guide companies, individuals and brands in effectively leveraging existing and emerging technologies in their business strategy.

Alice Bonasio is a VR and Digital Transformation Consultant and Tech Trends’ Editor in Chief. She also regularly writes for Fast Company, Ars Technica, Quartz, Wired and others. You can follow @alicebonasio on Twitter, connect with her on LinkedIn or subscribe to her Inside VR/AR Newletter for all the latest curated immersive news.  

The post Tech Trends at #E2 2019 appeared first on Tech Trends.