Sessions

Building 360 VR Immersive Experiences (A) at the Youth Summit

      

JJ Ruscella

Shenandoah Center for Immersive Learning

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Jj Ruscella


JJ Ruscella, Executive Director: An innovator in live action simulation and training, J.J. Ruscella leads the Shenandoah Center for Immersive Learning at Shenandoah University, which recently won the Innovations in Higher Education Award from the Shenandoah Valley Technology Council. Prior to Shenandoah, he founded the Interactive Performance Lab at the University of Central Florida. Last year, his simulation stage “StoryBox” was housed at Lincoln Center, where he presented his concept of his VR simulation stage, the Augmented Reality Chamber.

Joanne Ruscella

Shenandoah Center for Immersive Learning

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Joanne Ruscella


Joanne Ruscella is the Operations Manager for the Shenandoah Center for Immersive Learning (SCIL), having previously served as Executive Director for the Institute for Interactive Performance. As the former Associate Director of Education for Flat Rock Playhouse, the State Theatre of North Carolina, and Production Manager for Ed McMahon’s Next Big Star, she brings a lifetime background in both entertainment and education to SCIL. Co-founder and Vice President for Only Productions, Inc., she has produced both live and industrial theatre. Joanne has built and run programs for K-12, including assisting at-risk youths for Seminole State College. She is the author of “The Mommy Manual: Navigating the First Year in the Life of Your Newborn,” which is currently in its second edition. 

Cody Pugsley

Shenandoah Center for Immersive Learning

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Cody Pugsley


Cody Pugsley, Immersive Technology Specialist: Cody Pugsley represents the new generation of professional gamers. One of the first creators of the MOBA genre, he worked on the original DOTA which now represents one of the biggest international competitive e-sports games. Additional to his ten plus years as a video game tester and developer, he is an entrepreneur and independent business owner. Most recently his insights into VR/AR/Mixed Reality are influencing the gamification of education by employing applications of video gaming practices and technology to customizable immersive training events.

      
Session Details

Type: Interactive Workshop

Location: Room 1330

Date: Monday

Time: 2:00-2:50 PM

Session Description

Students will experience 360 VR encounters exposing them to the new technology and its impact upon the senses through immersive learning. The students will then participate in a discussion with the staff of SCIL Labs to explore this structure, design, and execution process of creating 360 VR experiences.

What will youth learn and be able to do at the end of the session?

Students will:

  • Explore new 360 technology
  • Brainstorm potential scenarios that they could develop themselves in the future
  • Learn design practices for building 360 VR encounters