The U.S. Department of Education (ED) has opened a
competition for immersive-simulation concepts that prepare students for the
global workforce of the 21st century. The EdSim Challenge will award $680,000
in prize money to the top computer-generated virtual- and augmented-reality
educational experiences that work with skill-building content and assessment.
Submissions will be judged on learning outcomes and must have clearly defined goals, a description of the
student skills the challenge will help improve, and a way to provide feedback. Five
finalists in the EdSim Challenge will earn $50,000 each and access to expert
mentorship to build a prototype, with the remainder of the $680,000 prize money
going to the winning entry.
“This initiative is an exciting example of how virtual
reality and game technologies can be applied to give students everywhere the
tools to prepare for future success,” said Johan Uvin, the Department of
Education’s acting assistant secretary for career, technical, and adult
education. “We encourage developers from all disciplines to answer our call and
help define the future of applied learning.”
Challenge
entries must be submitted by Jan. 17, 2017. A complete list of rules is available at www.edsimchallenge.com.