SW New Mexico News

New Mexico State University has been chosen as one of the testing sites for Cisco's hologram technology, aiming to revolutionize online learning experiences. Andrew Sedillo, director of microcredentials instructional design for NMSU Global Campus, expressed the significance of the opportunity, stating, "The idea is for them to give us the opportunity to play around with it and see if there's a market for it, and give them an opportunity to make some updates to the application."

The NMSU team overseeing the beta testing includes Robbie Grant, director of academic technology, Beth Apodaca, director of instructional design, and David Chavez, digital learning multimedia specialist. Apodaca shared insights from their visit to Cisco's research and development center in Oslo, Norway, where they witnessed the passion and dedication of the company towards the hologram technology.

At the testing site in Milton Hall, students and faculty are equipped with headsets to interact with 3D holograms, offering a novel experience for online education. Chavez highlighted the excitement among instructors to integrate this technology into their teaching methods, emphasizing the potential it holds for enhancing the learning environment.

Sedillo acknowledged the current cost barriers associated with the technology but expressed optimism about its future evolution, stating, "When this technology is blowing up in the future, our names will be part of the whole feedback process." Grant emphasized the strategic importance of such partnerships in positioning NMSU as a leader in leveraging cutting-edge technology for educational innovation.

The collaboration with Cisco on hologram technology aligns with NMSU's commitment to staying ahead in the realm of immersive learning experiences. Grant emphasized the strategic advantage this offers in attracting prospective students and preparing them for a tech-driven future, stating, "If we can partner with companies in an online format that no one else is doing, then potential students can see that we're using this technology, which makes our students very recruitable to other companies."

NMSU's involvement in testing Cisco's hologram technology not only showcases its commitment to innovation but also underscores its proactive approach to addressing future challenges in online education. With this pioneering initiative, NMSU is poised to lead the way in transforming the online learning landscape.