Is Virtual Reality...Equity?

We're talking today about the bold risks that innovators in K12
education choose to make toward the goal of educational equity -
this time a project from a company called Prisms VR using the
tech of virtual reality to make algebra the experience it should
be for learners, who when engaging with it through the right
context might actually have good cause to consider themselves
"math people" in a system that too often inadvertently fosters
the math caste system of those who "get it" and those who
don't. 


Dr. Luvelle Brown


Superintendent of Schools, Ithaca, NY


Luvelle Brown is an experienced educator who has held positions
as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, school CIO, and
Superintendent of Schools. Currently, Dr. Brown is serving as the
Superintendent of the Ithaca City School District (ICSD) in
Ithaca, New York. During his tenure in Ithaca, the Ithaca City
School District has experienced unprecedented levels of success.


Dr. Brown has facilitated conversations in multiple communities
that have resulted in transformative shifts in culture and
achievement. Using systems thinking in schools, Dr. Brown’s
leadership has led to innovative programs, redesigned learning
spaces, numerous technology initiatives.


Anurupa Ganguly


Founder and CEO, Prisms VR


Anurupa's entry point to Education began as a Physics and Math
teacher in the Boston Public Schools. For 10+ years since then,
Anurupa has led STEM curriculum and teacher preparation across
the largest educational systems in the US including the NYC DOE,
Boston Public Schools and Success Academy Charter Schools.
Through her experience as a district and charter administrator,
she found that she did not have the learning tools to deliver the
outcomes her leaders and teachers were accountable for, and the
personal sense-making journeys that students deserve while
developing foundational mathematical reasoning &
proficiencies.


She was awarded a National Science Foundation SBIR grant to build
a scalable learning platform that actualizes pedagogies that we
know work best, but weren't possible until recent advances in IVR
and AI technologies. Her mission is to rapidly improve student
performance and  engagement in the mathematical sciences
while crafting the instructor aids and training required to
operationalize innovative technologies in the classroom. Anurupa
holds a BS & M.Eng in electrical engineering from MIT and an
EdM in Curriculum & Teaching from Boston University.


Thumbnail image by https://unsplash.com/@shaikhulud


Links from this show:


PrismsVR Home: https://www.prismsvr.com/


Luvelle Brown: https://luvellebrown.com/


Ithaca City School District: https://www.ithacacityschools.org/


Announcements from PrismsVR: https://www.prismsvr.com/blog





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