Maya is the Senior Director of the Innovation Center and XR, AI, and Quantum Labs at The New School. She leads a team driving innovation focused on immersive storytelling, spatial computing, AI, Quantum Computing, future interfaces, and design. Maya leads the Quantum Computing Design Jam at The New School. Maya teaches the signature Immersive Storytelling course at Parsons School of Design and often speaks about the Metaverse and frontier technologies like AI and Quantum and speculative futures. Her work has been featured at SXSW, the MIT Media Lab, The Atlantic, The Economist, and the Fulbright Program, among others. She is the co-author and principal investigator of the State of XR and Immersive Learning Report. She has authored white papers on the future of education and immersive learning in EDUCAUSE Review, The Chronicle of Higher Education. Maya actively writes and speaks on the topics of the metaverse, immersive storytelling, and the future of learning, creativity, and work and consults organizations and startups in this space. She has been named one of the 30 Higher Education Influencers to follow in 2022. Maya has spoken at UNESCO, United Nations, and European Commission forums on education, policy, and corporate Innovation forums.

INNOVATION CENTER 

The Innovation Center’s mission is to create a culture of innovation that promotes a transdisciplinary intellectual and creative practice and a launchpad for new ventures with frontier technologies like Quantum Computing, Artificial Intelligence(AI), Blockchain, and Extended Reality (XR). Through programs anchored in design, social research, performing arts, and technology we empower entrepreneurial efforts to create new solutions and make a positive impact in the world.

The Center creates an innovation ecosystem that brings together faculty, students, industry and corporate partners, startups, cultural organizations, and policymakers to develop prototypes, applications, exhibitions, and performances. We encourage purposeful exploration and collaboration through academic programs, design jams and hackathons, public events, and publications. We explore the convergence of technologies, user-centric design, and ethical considerations to create insights, future narratives and deliver products and experiences.



Immersive Learning Workshops

What Is ChatGPT? - Coming in Spring 2023 

XR and The Future of Immersive Learning

With virtual and augmented reality, we are on the cusp of the next wave of the Digital Revolution. Immersive computing will impact multiple areas of culture and society, transforming the way we play, work, communicate, and express ourselves. As we reimagine education in the digital age, immersive computing may offer us a unique opportunity to transform learning. This session will review recent and upcoming developments in virtual, augmented, and mixed reality as well as a series of projects across the higher education landscape. The session will offer opportunities for questions and discussion. Following the session, faculty will have the opportunity to visit the XReality Lab virtual hub.

What Is the Metaverse: Hype or Future Reality? 

A series of developments over the last two years, including a global pandemic, has led to increased interest and exploration in virtual worlds from educational, cultural, and industry communities. In this workshop, we will discuss the concept of the Metaverse, Web 3.0, NFTs, and crypto. Maya will be sharing some projects and there will be ample opportunities for questions and discussion about all that has been taking place in virtual worlds.

Virtual Spaces and Galleries for collaboration and sharing of students and programs projects

The XReality Center will share and demo immersive applications for curricular and extracurricular activities. Join us to learn more about virtual spaces for teaching, showcasing, and performance. Email Maya Georgieva at maya@newschool.edu to schedule a session. 

Creating AR Scenes with Adobe Aero

Adobe Aero is a Mobile AR authoring application that allows us to create immersive Augmented Reality experiences using a mobile  Apple device. With Adobe Aero we will learn how to import 3D content, animate content based on user interactions, designate target surfaces or images, and much more. In this introductory workshop, we will explore the features available in Adobe Aero, mobile AR design, and how to deploy AR experiences on mobile devices. At this time Adobe Aero is only available on iOS devices so an iPhone or iPad is required for this workshop. 

Immersive Storytelling with 360 Video

In this interactive, hands-on workshop, we will review examples and explore key elements in the design of compelling 360° video experiences to gain a deeper understanding of immersive storytelling. We will learn and experiment with 360° video cameras, editing tools, and brainstorm project ideas. We will discuss and Identify strategies and project-based use cases for the implementation of 360° video in the learning environment and on campus. 

Virtual Reality, Digital Literacy, and Ethics 

What is the future of digital literacy in a world where the virtual and physical will be equally real? How should literacy be defined when actual human experience is no longer the touchstone for reality? As VR and AR begin to transform the learning environment, we will face profound questions on digital literacy and ethical issues. This session will explore how the growing use of VR will require new forms of digital literacy. We will discuss the expanding importance of privacy, ethics, and cultural sensitivity questions posed by VR and AR. This session will begin with a short presentation leaving ample time for discussion. 

Immersive Learning Series by Request

Review relevant examples and discuss ways to integrate VR/AR into the teaching and learning environment. Request a session for your department or team via the request form: Examples can focus on the use of VR/AR in Humanities, Social Sciences, Environmental Studies, Journalism, Art and Design, New Media Narratives or Suggest your own topic. For additional questions contact Maya Georgieva at maya@newschool.edu.

Immersive Learning sessions will take place online. Please register for any of the sessions above via the form. If you are unable to make the dates/times listed in the schedule or wish to meet one-on-one, you can request an individual session by writing directly to Maya Georgieva, Senior Director, Innovation Center  - maya@newschool.edu. 

For additional immersive learning workshops and events, please check the XReality Lab site.