3 Dimensions to learning

James Cameron, who is not known for making a poor judgement call (when it comes to creating hit movies anyway) has suggested that 3D viewing will not only come to the lounge room in the next few years, but eventually will be viewed on your phone, tablet, computer or TV, without the need for glasses.

All this talk of iPads and 3D viewing and Neovet just had a thought. If elearning is still on the slow journey towards frequent us on mobile devices, how would a 3D interface raise the bar yet again!

Here are my future predictions for 3D viewing and elearning.

1. Touch devices will sense movement 'above' the screen, adding a third dimension to touch devices. Learners would have multi layered content and navigation tools providing a richer display of content across subject areas and giving a more powerful search and display experience.
   
   
2. Instructional designers will need to think laterally when constructing elearning content
   
   
3. Peer learners will have a 'space' to play with content together in real time.
   
   
4. Training providers will continue to be behind the 8 ball in keeping teaching technology up to standards with popular media technology.
   

AVATAR movie & metaphor

Pick a metaphor, religious, scientific, cultural or political and your sure to find it layered in this block buster of a movie somewhere.

Neovet couldn't help but see some parallels with the idea of running around in the brain of a giant blue elf warrior and vocational training through elearning. The best part being that Jake Sully can do the impossible thanks to a virtual, (be it real) environment.

Jake can now walk in the virtual world and learn a whole new culture, language and set of skills. Will this re-inspire second life learning? Probably not, but 3D, AVATAR based social media and elearning is only moments away if your following the latest moves by Google to make the browser a doorway to a "Pandorian" web experience through it's O3D api.

SketchUp Contexts for learning

This great little 3D mapping app from the ever and sometimes suspiciously generous Google company, is great fun, easy to use and could be best described as an AutoCad for dummies.

How SketchUp can be used for students studying anything related to design; but it could also be used to help students build a context for learning. Imagine a student in a Retail or Events Management qualification, could demonstrate competence in setting up a room for clients or developing a new shop window fit out.

All this and more can be done in Google SketchUp, so download it now and start pushing and pulling your designs into existence.