Two new groundbreaking programs announced by Lethbridge College

“The exciting thing about this is they will take some core fundamentals together, things like colour theory and design fundamentals … they will have lectures together and will then separate to do different assignments that relate more to their program area. This is just for approximately a third or a half of the program,” said Cherie Reitzel, AAT instructor.

“Because of that collaboration together, you can actually get two diplomas in three years. You could go into Interior Design Technology (a pre-existing program) and then go right into second year of the (AAT) program, where you will learn all the coolest effects in animation and VR.”

Reitzel said in the school’s Interior Design program, instructors focus more on the specifics of design for spaces, looking at items like floor and ceiling plans for residential buildings, restaurants, hotels and corporate offices. The AAT program will help them bring those visions to life using VR technology.

“That’s not something in terms of the design building code that they’ll learn in AAT, so if they come to Interior Design, they’ll learn that. If they go into the AAT program (after Interior Design), now they’ll learn how to communicate it, in an immersive and super impressive way,” Reitzel added.

She explained that the school has already introduced virtual reality technology in other programs like Multimedia Production, Digital Communications and Media and coincidentally, Interior Design.

She said the new programs announced Tuesday will help expand a student’s learning experience. A prospective learner could enroll in the Interior Design program, then take the one-year Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR/AR) program and finish off their studies in the AAT program.

“We only have the one year for VR and it’s one year of add-on for AAT, so it gives you almost a real custom four years of education if you did those three programs,” Reitzel said.

She added that if a student graduates will all this knowledge and multiple diplomas, they might have an edge to find work in the fast-growing industry.

“Our students graduate and are able to go into a variety of areas because they know it all. We teach it all to them, so they’re ready for what’s sort of put before them,” she said.

The AAT program will be the only one of its kind in Canada.

“I’ve been working on having industry partners across the country, (partners like) architectural firms in Toronto and in Vancouver. We’re looking at doing an industry connection, so they (students) actually do a project across the country. There’s nothing (else) like this,” she said.

Lethbridge College will be hosting an event on April 24 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. called “surRENDER”, where the public and students can learn more about the Architectural Animation Technology program.

ONE-YEAR VIRTURAL AND AUGMENTED REALITY PROGRAM

The VR/AR program will focus on virtual and augmented reality training. The courses will show students how to design immersive games and interactive landscapes.

Instructor Mike McCready, who also serves as the president of the Alberta chapter of the Virtual and Augmented Reality Association, said the idea for the program started up about a year ago.

He explained that the idea was really brought to light after the school hosted the world’s first VR/AR conference held entirely using VR technology. “Merging Realities” brought together hundreds of participants from 16 different countries.

“We had worldwide attention from that (conference). We had 86 cities from around the world participate, so it was really clear to us that the need for this training was there,” McCready said.

The second annual “Merging Realities” event will happen on April 25, 2019.

He said instructors in the VR/AR program will not only teach technical skills, but also the entrepreneurial side of the virtual reality industry.

“A lot of the companies that are in the VR industry are start-ups, so we want to have our students be able to take their skill set and be able to apply that in an entrepreneurial outcome if they would like to pursue that passion,” he added.

“The industry over the next three years is forecast to grow over 400 percent and a lot of the areas where we will see this growth is in education and training.”

McCready added that the industry also brings forward many opportunities to work abroad and work with partners overseas.

“The Virtual and Augmented Reality certificate program is going to be a way that we will see students be able to shape the future of this industry.”

Anyone looking for an introduction to the program are encouraged to explore the Immersive Technology Series offered by Lethbridge College’s Corporate and Continuing Education. Both courses in the series are part of the VR/AR program, giving prospective students a jump on the curriculum.

For more details on the upcoming programs, visit lethbridgecollege.ca/vr or lethbridgecollege.ca/aat.

by Justin Goulet (@JustinGoulet21)

Two new groundbreaking programs announced by Lethbridge College

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