Searching For Balance
High-Tech and Future-Proof
During the development of the animation, Wesley worked closely with StudioXR‘s 3D artists and animator. As with any other product we create, this process began with a conversation and exploration where the core of the problem and the first concept of the solution were on the table. Whereas StudioXR always looks for the appropriate and future-proof solution, for Wesley it was important to find a middle ground between using high-tech solutions and the practicality of the product during the lesson. This is how we came up with the 3D animations. In doing so, we always consider sustainable reuse of 3D parts in other useful applications.
“Working with Sieb (Senior Developer @StudioXR) was incredibly fun. Together we searched for the balance between what was really important and what was just nice to use. By exchanging lots of ideas with each other, we had figured out in no time what it should be.”
With a joke and a grudge
And that very balance is what Wesley finds incredibly important in his classes. As a trainer, he believes that using a joke and a grudge to make a presentation of his lessons is the best thing in the world. So for him, it’s definitely not about letting technology take over that role. Technology is and always will be a tool, Wesley said, and I think it’s good to stay aware of that. The animation created by StudioXR fills that role incredibly well.
“When I show the animation it is immediately clear to my students what it is about. I don’t first have to draw a mental picture that can be different for each course participant; it’s clear in one fell swoop and that creates time for me to go deeper into the material. So a perfect complement!”
Learning By Doing
When we ask Wesley what XR could do for him in the future, he certainly sees opportunities. He names Electronics as a good example. In real life, “playful discovery/learning by doing” with electricity is quite dangerous. If something like this can be done digitally or virtually, he thinks it would be a particularly suitable solution. Hands-on learning, Wesley explains, is one of the most appropriate methods for my target group. If we can enrich that through technology, we’ll all be on the right track.
“Passion for me does not come from computers, but from people. The developers at StudioXR have struck a very nice balance. It is now really an enrichment to my teaching, not a replacement for myself as a presenter/trainer.”