Harvard Technology Team Wins Eduventures Innovation Award

The Emerging Technology Solutions Team from the Harvard Division of Continuing Education (DCE) recently received a 2024 Eduventures Innovation Award at the annual Summit in Chicago, Ill., according to a news release. DCE designed, developed, and implemented the HELIX Portable Blended Classroom, which expands the teaching capabilities of blended classes to allow for an connected, immersive learning experience.

The HELIX (Harvard Extension Live Interactive eXperience) Portable Blended Classroom replaces HyFlex (Hybrid and Flexible) teaching to allow Harvard faculty to teach classroom-based and remote students in real time from any classroom on campus. The hardware is available via two portable carts with minimal setup required and uses Zoom-based software, according to the news release. The technology has been deployed in hundreds of classrooms used by the Harvard Extension School, Harvard Summer School, Harvard College, and other professional schools.

The DCE Emerging Technology Solutions Team is led by Henry Leitner, PhD, Chief Innovation Officer and Associate Dean, Information Technology. Eduventures Research is a division of Encoura that offers research, analysis, and advisory services to higher education leaders and that recognizes innovative approaches to teaching, learning, and student support, the news release reports.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • California School District Completes Elementary School Modernization

    The San Diego Unified School District in San Diego, Calif., recently held a ribbon-cutting for a whole-site modernization of Pacific Beach Elementary School, according to local news. The school first opened with one building in 1930 and added six more between 1938 and 1957.

  • New Arizona Fine Arts School Reaches Construction Milestone

    Construction of the new Hilltop School for the Arts and Theater in Litchfield Park, Ariz., recently hit a significant milestone, according to a news release. The Agua Fria High School District held a beam-signing ceremony to celebrate the building’s topping out, or the placement of its last structural beam.

  • Photo courtesy of Kraus-Anderson

    Minnesota District Completes $49.7M Addition, Renovation Project

    St. Paul Public Schools in St. Paul, Minn., recently announced the completion of a $49.7-million addition and remodeling project at two district schools, according to a news release.

  • USC Launches Major AI Initiative After $200M Gift

    The University of Southern California in Los Angeles, Calif., recently announced that it has launched a “transformational” new AI initiative thanks to a $200M gift, according to a news release. The project will leverage AI toward breakthroughs and innovations in subjects like the health sciences, business, security, and the arts.