Blackburn Rovers Community Trust is now proud to be offering 3D technology experiences to schools, community groups and other partner organisations, allowing them the opportunity to experience the ‘next big thing’ in education. Blackburn Rovers Community Trust is the first Football Community Trust in the UK to work with Gaia Technologies plc to embrace and develop the use and power of 3D technology in their teaching.

Blackburn Rovers Community Trust (www.brfctrust.co.uk/community) is very much at the heart of embracing and recognising the use of ICT as a powerful learning tool. In championing the latest technologies, the Trust has seen students become motivated, engaged and ultimately achieve success.

The introduction of 3D in curriculum delivery across a range of subjects makes an already unique learning environment stand out even further from the competition. This new technology includes an interactive 3D heart rate monitor, which allows students to witness a 3D representation of their own heart beating in time to their pulse.

Chris Dawes, Head of Business Operations says,

“The Gaia 3D software has made a significant impact when used with our students, as their comprehension of sport and fitness-related topics in particular has improved immensely. Learning in this way has proven to develop and increase confidence, and students are engaged to the point where they are queuing up to try out the equipment.”

The 3D experience allows students to enhance and apply their understanding of complex issues by learning through observation and investigation, rather than via the traditional routes of instruction. This unique method of pedagogy allows environments and models to be observed in full 3D from every angle. This fully interactive learning tool engages students through a variety of learning styles, guaranteeing a greater level of participation and comprehension. What takes the Trust’s use of 3D learning solutions to a whole new level is the ability to make it possible for students to develop and produce 3D content themselves, using freely available software such as Google Sketchup and Autodesk 123D Catch.

The Trust’s use of 3D technology has been beneficial to teaching and learning across a range of subject areas and has created a fun and stimulating learning experience by immersing students in environments like never before possible. The ‘wow factor’ is often witnessed in Trust-delivered sessions when students are presented with the 3D learning environment.

As acknowledgement of its excellence in ICT provision, the Trust has become an Acer Education Centre. As part of an Acer project for education, in collaboration with European Schoolnet (EUN) (www.eun.org), Blackburn Rovers Community Trust has had the pleasure of receiving a class set of Acer tablets for use across the Education Centre. The goal of this project is to support teaching organisations and schools to move into the 21st Century by providing the opportunity to develop new teaching and learning methods through the use of technology.

“These tablets really do make a difference to developmental areas such as independent learning, increased motivation and levels of participation. Using the tablets and combining them with other software and hardware solutions such as Gaia’s 3D Viewer, we have been able to transform Ewood Park into an interactive learning hub, giving students and teachers alike countless opportunities to participate in interactive Maths, English, Science and History trails to name just a few activities on offer.” added Mr. Dawes.

© Blackburn Rovers Community Trust

Gaia Technologies demonstrating motion capture technology and its uses in Blackburn Rovers Community Trust’s Science Curriculum

]]> http://www.gaia-tech.com/news/blackburn-rovers-community-trust-embraces-gaia-3d/feed/ 0 http://www.gaia-tech.com/success-stories/shelfield-video-case-study-managed-service/ http://www.gaia-tech.com/success-stories/shelfield-video-case-study-managed-service/#comments Mon, 10 Oct 2011 16:03:54 +0000 admin http://www.gaia-tech.com/?p=2575 Staff from Shelfield Community Academy in Walsall in the West Midlands discuss the ICT Managed Services provided to their school by Gaia Technologies Plc.

Gaia Technologies is delighted to have been identified as the 20th fastest growing company in Wales in  the Wales Fast Growth 50 for 2011.

The Wales fast Growth 50 awards, organised by the Western Mail, in association with the University of Wales, aims to identify the fifty fastest growing firms in Wales. Now in its thirteenth year, it has become firmly established as one of the main barometers of entrepreneurship in the Welsh economy and the list of business success that companies across Wales aspire to.

The awards were held at the Holland House Hotel in Cardiff on Friday September 16th 2011. The 2011 list of the fastest growing firms in Wales also appeared in a special supplement of the Western Mail on Wednesday 21st September.

Gaia Technologies has expanded from 39 employees in 2008 to the current count of 57.

“We are excited to be included within this prestigious selection of Welsh companies. This testifies to the innovation, talent and energy of the Gaia Technologies workforce and our commitment to our business development within Wales.” Anas Mawla, Managing Director of Gaia Technologies.

Originally formed in 1992 by three graduates from Bangor University, Gaia Technologies now manages IT infrastructure for education establishments across the UK.

Since 2007 the company has been based at spacious new offices in Parc Menai, Bangor. The new head office has proved popular with customers and staff and has the capacity to continue to provide room for growth. In response to additional growth and of a large number of new customers in West London, the company is also considering opening new office facilities in that area.

Katerina Patouchea, Administration Director said “We continue to expand staffing numbers as demand for our Managed Service products have grown enormously. Recent government changes in education funding in both England and Wales have continued the need for realistically priced ICT solutions from a company providing an ‘approachable partner’ approach. ”

Anas Mawla; “The Company will continue to develop its two main products in the education sector.

First, we will continue the rapid expansion of the business in the delivery of Managed Service to the Education sector in both Wales and England. We are forecasting organic growth to reach £24m in the next two years.

Recent changes in England from the UK government’s decision to stop BSF projects, cancel new build projects, and put added impetus behind the Academies programme – are all extremely positive developments for a company specialising in realistically costed and innovative IT infrastructure that are funded from revenue streams.

Our experience in this field, one that blossomed out of the political changes of the last year, mean that our services are in great demand and with relatively few competitors with the same degree of experience. We are ideally positioned to serve the new emerging market- which includes over 3600 Academies
In Wales, our extensive experience in schools across north and mid Wales (some 150 in all) and realistically budgeted, innovative and friendly approach – are all attractive elements that we hope will be of service to the consortia arrangements that are now forming.

IT support in schools has never been a statutory duty for local authorities and we believe that some benchmarking between providers in both private and public sector will lower costs and invigorate the landscape with new ideas and investment

We are confident that we could save each local authority at least 10% of their ongoing IT support costs. At the same time, schools we support have been known to receive written acknowledgement by schools assessment authority ESTYN, as to the outstanding level of support that they receive- so we are confident we could add significant added value.

Secondly, the company will consolidate its position as a world class leader in 3D development for educational content.

Can you image lessons in 3D? Where you may enter an image, move it, look beneath it or from the side – a highly interactive and highly educational experience that is fully in the hands of the user.

Schools that have adopted this technology point out that it greatly enhances student participation and motivation and that it reduced the time spent in conveying ideas- as the student can more readily observe and understand concepts from what is seen in the classroom.
Gaia is the world’s leading creator of 3D images for the education market. Our range of images is increasing every day from the combined activity of 6 full time software designers and developers.

We are currently actively engaged in introducing the technology to potential users. It is still a product that is extremely new to the market and we need the support of early adopters and curious bystanders in education to be able to see the advantages and explain them to others in education.

Within 5 years we anticipate that this division of the company will generate even more than the remainder of the company- and we also see that part doing extremely well.”

Gaia has recently been selected as the ICT provider for:

• The JCB Academy in Staffordshire
• Garth Hill College OSP in Bracknell
• Culcheth High School OSP in Warrington
• Northumberland Church of England Academy in Morpeth
• Hereford Technology School in Grimsby
• Shelfield Community Academy in Walsall
• Cranford Community Schools in Hounslow and several primary and secondary schools in Denbighshire.
• Drapers’ Academy in Havering
• Ormiston Academies Trust
• Cowes Enterprise College, Isle of Wight

By attaining the Microsoft Server Platform competency, Gaia can demonstrate expertise in building, designing, deploying, and supporting the Windows Server operating system, Windows Server–based applications, and the Microsoft server infrastructure. Gaia will be better positioned to help support customers’ business strategies through high levels of availability, agility, and automation.

“Gold competencies demonstrate your best-in-class expertise within Microsoft’s marketplace. Earning a gold competency is evidence of the deepest, most consistent commitment to a specific, in-demand, business solution area, along with the distinction of being among only 1 percent of Microsoft partners worldwide that have attained this outstanding degree of proficiency.”

Gaia Technologies Plc recently showcased its 3D Visual Learning software at the Big Bang: UK Young Scientists & Engineers Fair.

The Big Bang is the UK’s biggest single celebration of science and engineering for young people, with over 25,000 people attending the event each year. The fair kicks off ten days of exciting events celebrating science and engineering across the country and aiming to engage and inspire children to organise and participate in science and engineering events and activities.

Gaia was invited to feature on the JCB stand to demonstrate the potential of 3D learning in the engineering classroom. Gaia installed a full 3D learning system at the JCB Academy in 2010. Since then, the Academy’s students have embraced this innovative technology as part of their learning.

JCB’s students have a dedicated 3D suite, where they take their own 2D CAD designs, developed in the classroom, and integrate them into the Gaia 3D Viewer. This allows students to gain a new perspective on their designs. Users can travel inside models as well as disassemble and rebuild them, enabling them to improve their designs in a virtual environment before they are fully realised. This is particularly useful in JCB Academy’s specialist Design and Engineering curriculum. The Academy’s students are now creating all of their own 3D content; however they also have access to Gaia’s 3D Library which incorporates 3D learning assets across the whole curriculum.

As the Big Bang fair is dedicated to inspiring young engineers, JCB and Gaia were keen to demonstrate the ability of 3D Visual Learning to impact and improve the learning experience. Gaia 3D engineer, David Richens, attended the event putting on 3D demonstrations for fair attendees.

“The JCB stand was the busiest stand there,” commented David Richens. “The traffic never stopped. Kids and teachers were constantly rolling in the door. The excitement was palpable. We had a 100% positive reaction with everyone saying ‘I want this in my school’!” he added.

Students and teachers alike were queuing for the 3D experience
The 3D demonstration also attracted other exhibitors, with representatives from the British Army and Rolls Royce paying visits to the stand.

The event took place at ICC London ExCeL from 10-12 March 2011.

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Shelfield Community Academy is the first school in the UK to work with Gaia Technologies to embrace and develop the use of 3D technologies in the classroom. Through the implementation of 3D lessons, the school has seen a dramatic improvement in student participation, retention and comprehension.

Gaia have developed a wide range of 3D learning content in partnership with teachers and students. This content covers the breadth of the curriculum and some of the vocational courses. The content library is available for use and is packaged with the Gaia 3D Viewer. Gaia also offer a wide range of 3D hardware solutions for large spaces, classrooms and individual users.

Specialising in English and literacy, sport and physical education, Shelfield Community Academy is part of the Ormiston Academy Trust, which strongly believes that children should be empowered to maximise their potential through the removal of barriers to learning. One of the aims of the Trust is to raise educational standards by building a world-class network of innovative, high performing secondary schools in partnership with the wider community.

As an Academy, Shelfield has the independence to deliver the curriculum of its choice and adopt the latest technologies and innovative solutions to enhance and improve its pupils’ learning experiences. With this in mind, the Academy decided to partner with Gaia Technologies for the design, development, implementation and support of its unique 3D Immersive Visual Learning System.

“We knew that a 3D learning solution would dramatically enhance our teaching processes and develop students’ learning skills in a way that cannot be compared to the traditional text book approach.” Bernard Dickinson, Principal, Shelfield Community Academy

An Innovative Teaching Solution

“Gaia’s 3D Immersive Visual Learning system changes the dynamic of learning as students learn through observation rather than by instruction,” explained Anas Mawla, Gaia Technologies’ Managing Director. “By using our 3D visual learning solutions, teachers spend less time explaining, as students are able to understand complex relationships and techniques through individual observation. Gaia has brought expensive technology to affordable levels well within the reach of educational establishments.”

“From the outset, this has been a real partnership,” explained Bernard Dickinson, the Principal at Shelfield Community Academy. “We knew that a 3D learning solution would dramatically enhance our teaching processes and develop students’ learning skills in a way that cannot be compared to the traditional text book approach. We wanted an organisation that would work with us, providing the hardware and support and developing custom 3D resources in line with our curriculum objectives.”

“Teaching in 3D eradicates the time lost in lessons. Using the 3D learning solution I can teach 30% more than I can in a normal classroom!” Michael Murphy, Head of Humanities Faculty, Shelfield Community Academy

Impressive Flexibility

Shelfield has been impressed with the flexibility of Gaia Technologies from the early stages of the project. In addition to their in-depth experience, Gaia engineers and consultants fully understand the unique requirements and objectives of the Shelfield teaching staff.

“The partnership is extremely productive,” added Bernard Dickinson. “The combination of innovative technology, staff input and Gaia’s ability to deliver has resulted in an incredible teaching solution.”

Michael Murphy, the Head of Shelfield’s Humanities Faculty, agrees: “Gaia provides an outstanding service on many levels, but their communication skills are first class,” he continued. “Gaia is genuinely eager to help our students learn and works very closely with staff across the Academy to change the way in which our students interact with teaching and learning.”

But it’s not just about changing how students interact with teaching and learning. Shelfield’s 3D Visual Learning Solution is substantially en-hancing the way in which information is absorbed by students. Shelfield’s students were born into a world that embraces visual media. Computers, game platforms and mobile phones are a natural part of their lives and the transition from traditional text book teaching to a 3D Visual Learning experience is enthusiastically welcomed by the Academy’s students.

A Real Learning Experience

Shelfield has found that teaching in 3D provides students with an entirely new experience where they are more engaged and productive.

“Teaching in 3D eradicates the time lost in lessons,” continued Michael Murphy. “A lesson that would normally take 60 minutes can now be conducted in 35 minutes, leaving almost half the lesson period available to expand on what has been learned. Using the 3D learning solution I can teach 30% more than I can in a normal classroom!”

The initial Shelfield 3D learning solution implementation, including a wide screen, stereo sound and the core 3D projection system, has been installed in a dedicated suite. Teaching staff book the facility in advance whenever they need it, although the system has proved so popular with students and staff that classroom-based lessons often decamp to the 3D centre so that the subject being taught can be explored in more detail.

“Students are all engaged and excited to be learning. You can visibly see the participation increase when we walk into the 3D suite. Students who are engaged are much more likely to recall and retain information and that is what teaching is all about,” added Mr Murphy.

“A recent geography class used the 3D suite to focus on volcanoes. While discussing the structure and function of a volcano, one student brought up the subject of Pompeii. We were able to naturally flow on with the lesson, using the 3D system to explore Pompeii and walk the students through a Roman town. You just can’t achieve that level of interaction using traditional text books,” explained Mr Murphy.

Using resources like these, students show dramatic improvement and have more fun learning.
Shelfield’s 3D system is used to explore Roman architecture and the Roman way of life.

“3D isn’t a gimmick. It allows us to develop skills within our students far more effectively. It has changed the way we teach: students can learn at a faster pace, the whole process is more effective and efficient, and we can improve students’ abilities to understand and learn.” Bernard Dickinson, Principal, Shelfield Community Academy

Branching Out

The success of the 3D learning solution and the impact that it has had on both teachers and students has encouraged Shelfield to evaluate the practicalities of replicating its 3D learning solution across other parts of the Academy so that it can be used as a day-to-day teaching tool in classrooms.

“We initially saw our 3D resource as playing a key role in teaching complex subjects, such as science where it can be difficult to describe a concept,” explained Lisa Barton, Shelfield’s Head of 3D Learning. “However we found that our students have really engaged in 3D so we are working very closely with the Gaia team to create new resources to enhance our overall curriculum.”

Changing the Way We Teach

Shelfield Community Academy is developing the 3D concept further across the curriculum. It sees the 3D learning platform as the natural way forward in helping students learn and gain an understanding of subjects, and plans to expand its use of this new and highly successful teaching tool across all departments.

Bernard Dickinson concluded, “With Gaia’s help we have thoroughly investigated the whole concept and have developed our approach to learning using 3D in particular to help students appreciate concepts and understand more easily how things interrelate. 3D allows us to develop skills within our students far more effectively. It has changed the way we teach: students can learn at a faster pace, the whole process is more effective and efficient, and we can improve students’ abilities to understand and learn.”

“Gaia Technologies is leading the way in this technology and supporting the Academy in the content creation and development of the hardware and software used in this incredible teaching tool.”

Gaia Technologies announces the launch of its new 3D Visual Learning Solution. After 4 years of development, the product is now available for use in schools across the country. The 3D learning resource aims to extend the reach of conventional learning resources by demonstrating the positive effect that visual learning can have on the student, the classroom and the entire school.

“Gaia’s 3D Immersive Visual Learning resource changes the dynamic of learning as students learn through observation rather than by instruction,” explained Anas Mawla, Managing Director of Gaia Technologies plc. “By using our 3D visual learning system, teachers spend less time explaining, as students are able to understand complex relationships and techniques through individual observation.”

This new learning resource is changing the way in which students interact with teaching and learning. Interactive visual learning is substantially enhancing the way in which information is absorbed by students. And the transition from traditional text book teaching to a 3D visual learning experience has been enthusiastically welcomed by students at several schools and academies across the UK.

“Students are all engaged and excited to be learning”, commented Michael Murphy, Head of Humanities faculty at Shelfield Community Academy in Walsall. And as a result of that enthusiasm, the teaching process has become more effective and efficient. “A lesson that would normally take 60 minutes can now be conducted in 35 minutes, leaving almost half the lesson period available to expand on what has been learned. Using the 3D learning resource I can teach 30% more that I can in a normal classroom!”

Gaia have developed a variety of 3D software solutions all designed for use in education. All learning content is syllabus-based and heavily influenced by teachers and students – who can also create and incorporate their own content directly into the system.  Each lesson can be further enhanced by the teacher with the capability to quickly and easily embed external videos, web links, multimedia files and digital assets directly into the lessons provided. The content library is available for use and is packaged with the Gaia 3D Viewer.

The Viewer allows users to individually determine the path they wish to travel inside any 3D environment. Different viewer options offer a variety of capabilities from animated sequences to environmental controls. The interface can be operated by both teacher and student and allows the user to not only manipulate models but step through animations, control model transparency, journey through environments and enter data that will be reflected within the model. “The viewer has been designed for ease of use”, explained Jon Rashid, Gaia’s Head of 3D Development. “It is designed to work with many different 3D formats – from stereoscopic to anaglyph and side by side – without neglecting the fact that many lessons are still extremely valid even when run on a non 3D computer. The entire system has been designed with the classroom in mind. The simple interface requires no training and teachers are able to start teaching lessons in 3D straight away” concluded Rashid.

Gaia 3D Visual Learning Solutions also incorporate a range of hardware ranging from high-end systems for large spaces to personal devices for individual users. “Seeing images come to life in 3D cements learning in a way that cannot be achieved through standard projection” commented Jim Wade, Principal of JCB Academy in Staffordshire. All solutions have been packaged to provide high quality imagery at affordable prices to meet the needs of any educational environment.