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<h1 class=""><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:windowtext"
class="" lang="EN">See below for details on a new education
simulations design challenge competition. Deadline is January 17
<br>
</span></h1>
<h1 class=""><span class="" lang="EN">U.S. Department of Education
Launches $680K Challenge for Virtual and Augmented Reality
Learning Experiences</span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class=""><span
style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica
Neue",serif" class="" lang="EN">November 2, 2016</span></span><span
style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica
Neue",serif;color:#030a13" class="" lang="EN"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong class=""><span
style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica
Neue",serif;color:#444444" class="" lang="EN">Contact: </span></strong><span
style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica
Neue",serif;color:#444444" class="" lang="EN"> Press
Office, (202) 401-1576, <a
href="javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','+press@ed.gov');"
target="_blank" class="">
press@ed.gov</a></span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:"Helvetica
Neue",serif;color:#030a13" class="" lang="EN">The U.S.
Department of Education today launched the
<a href="http://www.edsimchallenge.com/" target="_blank"
class="">EdSim Challenge</a>, a competition to design the
next-generation of educational simulations that strengthen
career and technical skills. The Challenge calls upon the
virtual reality, video game developer, and educational
technology communities to submit concepts for immersive
simulations that will prepare students for the globally
competitive workforce of the 21st century.</span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:"Helvetica
Neue",serif;color:#030a13" class="" lang="EN">“This
initiative is an exciting example of how virtual reality and
game technologies can be applied to give students everywhere the
tools to prepare for future success,” said <a
href="http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ovae/staff/uvin.html"
target="_blank" class="">
Johan Uvin, Acting Assistant Secretary for Career, Technical,
and Adult Education</a> “We encourage developers from all
disciplines to answer our call and help define the future of
applied learning.”
</span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:"Helvetica
Neue",serif;color:#030a13" class="" lang="EN">Simulated
digital learning environments, such as virtual and augmented
reality, 3D simulations, and multiplayer video games, are an
emerging approach to deliver educational content, and provide
students with enriched experiences in information retention,
engagement, skills acquisition, and learning outcomes. Students
who participate in digital learning simulations for science,
technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) learning had a 23
percent higher achievement rating than those who do not. </span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:"Helvetica
Neue",serif;color:#030a13" class="" lang="EN">The Challenge
seeks to spur the development of computer-generated virtual and
augmented reality educational experiences that combine existing
and future technologies with skill-building content and
assessment. Collaboration is encouraged among the developer
community to make aspects of simulations available through open
source licenses and low-cost shareable components. ED is most
interested in simulations that pair the engagement of commercial
games with educational content that transfers academic,
technical, and employability skills.
</span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:"Helvetica
Neue",serif;color:#030a13" class="" lang="EN">Those
interested in participating in the Challenge should submit their
simulation concepts by Jan. 17, 2017. A multidisciplinary panel
of judges will evaluate the submissions and select up to five
finalists to advance to the Virtual Accelerator phase. Each
finalist will be awarded $50,000 and gain access to expert
mentorship as they refine their concept and build a simulation
prototype.</span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:"Helvetica
Neue",serif;color:#030a13" class="" lang="EN">The Challenge
winner(s) will be awarded the remainder of the prize money and
additional sponsor prizes from IBM, Microsoft, Oculus, and
Samsung.
</span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:"Helvetica
Neue",serif;color:#030a13" class="" lang="EN">For a
complete list of Challenge rules, visit
<a href="http://www.edsimchallenge.com/" target="_blank"
class="">http://www.edsimchallenge.com/</a><wbr class="">.</span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:"Helvetica
Neue",serif;color:#030a13" class="" lang="EN">Follow the
Challenge:
</span></p>
<ul class="" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#030a13"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica
Neue",serif" class="" lang="EN">Twitter:
<a href="https://twitter.com/edprizes" target="_blank"
class="">www.twitter.com/edprizes</a>,
<a href="http://www.twitter.com/usedgov" target="_blank"
class="">www.twitter.com/usedgov</a></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#030a13"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica
Neue",serif" class="" lang="EN">Facebook:
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/ED.gov" target="_blank"
class="">https://www.facebook.com/ED.<wbr class="">gov</a></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#030a13"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica
Neue",serif" class="" lang="EN">Instagram:
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usedgov/" target="_blank"
class="">https://www.instagram.com/<wbr class="">usedgov/</a></span></li>
</ul>
<p class=""><strong class=""><span
style="font-family:"Helvetica
Neue",serif;color:#030a13" class="" lang="EN">Ed Prizes
</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Helvetica
Neue",serif;color:#030a13" class="" lang="EN"></span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:"Helvetica
Neue",serif;color:#030a13" class="" lang="EN">The EdSim
Challenge is part of a series of prize competitions conducted by
ED which seek to spur the development of new technology,
products, and resources that will prepare students for the
high-skill, high-wage, and high-demand occupations of tomorrow.
The series is funded by the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical
Education Act of 2006. Learn more at:
<a href="http://www.edprizes.com/" target="_blank" class="">www.edprizes.com</a>.
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"
class=""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif" class="">______________________________<wbr
class="">_______________</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif" class="">Brent
Jaquet</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"
class="">Senior Vice President</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"
class="">Cavarocchi-Ruscio-Dennis Associates, L.L.C.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"
class="">600 Maryland Avenue, SW, Suite 835 W, Washington D.C.
20024</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"
class="">202 484 1100 (Ext 112) 202 484 1244 FAX 443 822 9279
Cell</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:blue"
class=""><a
href="javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','bjaquet@dc-crd.com');"
target="_blank" class=""><span style="color:blue" class="">bjaquet@dc-crd.com</span></a>
<a href="http://www.dc-crd.com/" target="_blank" class=""><span
style="color:blue" class="">www.dc-crd.com</span></a>
</span></p>
<br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Tobias Hollerer
Professor, Department of Computer Science
University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-5110
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:holl@cs.ucsb.edu">holl@cs.ucsb.edu</a>, Office: (805)284-9395, Fax: (805)893-8553 </pre>
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