The first multi-campus workshop is held at EKC Broadstairs College in brand-new immersive classrooms.

Students from the East Kent Colleges Group came together virtually for the first time at an interactive workshop on neurodiversity held on Wednesday, January 10, at EKC Broadstairs College. In order to connect various College campuses, the Group’s new immersive classrooms used cutting-edge digital technology for the first time at the event.

The Colleges worked together to organize this historic session, with EKC Broadstairs College serving as its leader. Dr. Chloe Farahar, PhD, a member of the Aucademy, an organization of autistic academics and educators, served as the workshop’s keynote speaker.

Students from the Group’s College campuses in Ashford, Broadstairs, Canterbury, Dover, and Folkestone came together virtually for the event to discuss the topics of neurodiversity and autism.

With VR headsets, digital displays, and interactive tools, the new immersive classrooms have been created to facilitate cross-College collaborative learning and provide students with the best learning experience. Using virtual and augmented reality technologies, they can be used to design a dynamic and engaging learning environment that enables students to explore virtual simulations that aid in consolidating their knowledge and understanding of course material.

Dr. Chloe Farahar, a specialist tutor on the National Autism Training Programme for NHS staff, served as the workshop’s guest speaker, and participants could interact with the classes on each campus at the same time thanks to the real-time video platform.

The workshop’s main goals were to increase understanding and acceptance of neurodiversity as well as to develop settings that would accommodate them. Students participated in a mindful stimming activity during which they thought about the various types of self-stimulatory behavior, such as repetitive movements or sounds, that neurodivergent individuals may use as self- soothing techniques. Students learned about various kinds of neuroscience. &nbsp,

In order to provide engaging and enriching live teaching experiences to students across the Group regardless of location, EKC Broadstairs College looks forward to continuing this innovative, multi-campus approach to learning.

Source: broadstairscollege.ac.uk