- April 8, 2018 |5 Min Read
Donation of VR Equipment and Experiences Made Possible by Partnership with Alight Solutions and 1871; Donation is the Second of Several That EX3 Labs Plans to Make as Part of its Give Back Mission
CHICAGO — April 4, 2018 — Chicago tech startup EX3 Labs, in partnership with Alight Solutions and 1871, announced Wednesday that it will present an Immersive Learning Lab to Walter H. Dyett High School For the Arts. The dedication is the second such donation EX3 Labs has made as part of the company’s Immersive Learning Lab Mission. The company previously donated an Immersive Learning Lab to George M. Pullman Elementary School.
“Most people associate virtual reality with gaming, but it’s playing a more prominent role as a learning mechanism,” said Adam Wisniewski, CEO of EX3 Labs. “Now, students are able to experience educational content in a 3D environment in addition to a textbook or computer screen. I’ve seen firsthand how immersive learning experiences can improve student engagement. Our goal is to help every student within CPS have these types of experiences available to them.”
EX3 Labs is based at 1871, the technology incubator that is home to over 500 tech startups located in The Merchandise Mart. The Immersive Learning Lab donations are made possible by the partnership between EX3 Labs and 1871’s Corporate Innovation Program. The Innovation Program enables companies to engage with and leverage new technologies and develop their own culture of internal innovation. EX3 Labs’ goal is to donate an Immersive Learning Lab to a Chicago Public School for every Innovation Day held in partnership with 1871’s Corporate Innovation Program.
“We’re thrilled to partner with EX3 Labs once again and work alongside Alight Solutions to bring virtual reality technologies to the students of Dyett High School,” said 1871 CEO Howard A. Tullman. “As the Number One incubator in the world, we have a responsibility to provide future generations with the most relevant resources and a first-class education. We’re proud of EX3 Labs’ commitment to our community and honored to take part in this joint effort.”
Headquartered in Lincolnshire, Alight Solutions, a leader in technology-enabled health, wealth, HR and finance solutions, partnered with EX3 Labs on the Immersive Learning Lab as part of its focused innovation efforts and to extend its entrepreneurial culture into the community.
“The pace of change is more rapid now than ever before. To keep up with that evolution and thrive as a community, we have to cultivate an environment of curiosity, learning and innovation, and that starts with ensuring our kids have access to experiences like the Immersive Learning Lab,” said Chris Michalak, CEO of Alight solutions. “We are thrilled to partner with EX3 Labs and 1871 to provide this unique learning environment to the students of Dyett High School.”
Dyett High School is located in the Washington Park neighborhood on Chicago’s south side. The school’s mission is to “change students’ life-trajectories and develop the next generation of innovators, leaders, and problem-solvers by tapping into their creative genius and preparing them for post-secondary experiences.”
“We are extremely excited and grateful to 1871, EX3 Labs, and Alight Solutions for working together to bring this transformational technology to Dyett’s students,” said Beulah Mcloyd, Principal at Dyett. “I have seen, firsthand, the impact that innovative tools like these have; increased engagement, retention, and excitement about learning all result from teachers’ strategic use of technology in the classroom. This donation is a crucial component that will make this possible.”
The Immersive Learning Lab will consist of:
- 30 Google Expedition devices and VR viewers
- A teacher’s tablet
- More than 750 learning expeditions for students to experience in the sciences, art, history andmore
- 1 Microsoft Mixed Reality headset
- Mixed Reality learning content
Reporters and videographers wishing to attend the event at 10 a.m. at Walter H. Dyett High School (555 E. 51st St, Chicago) and see a demonstration of the technology should RSVP by emailing jason@EX3Labs.com.
About EX3 Labs
EX3 Labs is an experience design and innovation consulting firm that helps companies create digital solutions that wow customers, empower teams, and help workforces be more productive. The company specializes in emerging technology such as augmented and virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and Internet of Things (IoT). For more information, visit www.ex3labs.com or call (800) 277-1863.
About 1871
1871 is the home of over 500 high-growth technology startups and more than 1,500 members supported by an entire ecosystem focused on accelerating their growth and creating jobs in the Chicagoland area. Visit www.1871.com for more information. Located in a 150,000 square-foot space over three floors in The Merchandise Mart, 1871 has more than 600 current mentors available to its members, as well as more than 80 partner corporations, universities, education programs, accelerators, venture funds and other organizations that make its extensive matrix of resources possible. For more on our partners, visit www.1871.com/about/partners, or become a partner by reaching out to contact@1871.com.
About Alight Solutions
As the leading provider of benefits administration and cloud-based HR and financial solutions, we enhance work and life through our service, technology and data. Our dedicated colleagues across 14 global centers deliver an unrivaled consumer experience for our clients and their people. We are Alight. Reimagining how people and organizations thrive.