I come from a STEM background, having studied at MIT. Throughout my education and career, I consistently noticed a lack of deep conceptual understanding of math and science among students. This frustration led me to question the effectiveness of K-12 education in these subjects. I started my journey as a teacher for Teach for America in Boston, where I saw the disconnect between the educational experience teachers were asked to provide and the tools they were given. I then went on to support Teach for India, where I learned the importance of building things from the ground up with limited resources. Returning to the U.S., I worked as an administrator in Boston and later as the Dean of STEM at Success Academy in New York City.
Despite the resources available at Success Academy, I found that students were still struggling to grasp mathematics in a way that would prepare them for higher education. This led me to explore pedagogies that could facilitate deeper understanding. I discovered that immersive VR could be a powerful tool for enhancing math learning, allowing students to manipulate their environment and develop a deeper conceptual understanding.
Through my work with Prisms of Reality, I aim to not only provide an effective mode of learning but also to accelerate learning through deeper understanding. Our VR experiences are designed to provide emotional resonance and conceptual depth, guiding students towards a more profound understanding of mathematical concepts. With the recent advancements in VR technology and learning design, we are able to create compelling experiences that engage students and facilitate learning in ways that traditional methods cannot.
I am excited about the future of Prisms and our potential to revolutionize math and STEM education. Our beta launch for Algebra is just the beginning, and we have plans to expand into geometry, middle school math and science, and eventually high school physics and chemistry. By leveraging the power of VR, we hope to transform the way students learn and engage with these subjects, ultimately preparing them for success in higher education and beyond.
So, after my time at Success Academy, I founded Prisms of Reality. Prisms of Reality is a consulting and coaching company that focuses on the intersection of STEM education, equity, and culture. Our goal is to help schools and education organizations create transformative STEM learning experiences for all students, especially those who have been historically underserved.
Through Prisms of Reality, we work with educators and school leaders to develop culturally responsive STEM curriculum, implement effective teaching strategies, and create inclusive learning environments. We believe that by addressing the systemic barriers that exist in STEM education, we can empower all students to succeed and thrive in the 21st century.
My journey from MIT to founding Prisms of Reality has been guided by my passion for STEM education and my commitment to equity and social justice. I believe that every student deserves access to high-quality STEM education, and I am dedicated to making that a reality for all students. Thank you for listening to my story, and I look forward to continuing this important work in the field of education.
Anurupa Ganguly: Yes, absolutely. And I think that’s really the key. It’s not just about having the latest technology, it’s about how we can use that technology to truly enhance the learning experience for students. And that means not only considering the hardware and software aspects, but also the pedagogy and learning design that goes into creating a truly immersive and effective educational experience.
I’m excited to see how these beta releases will be received and how they can help us further refine and improve the use of immersive virtual reality in education. It’s an exciting time to be at the intersection of technology and learning, and I truly believe that this can be a game-changer for how we teach and learn in the future.
Anurupa Ganguly: Absolutely. Math was created to describe and understand the world around us. And I think that’s a key aspect that we’re trying to bring back into the education system. We want students to see the real-world applications of math and how it can be used to solve problems and make decisions. By immersing them in these scenarios and experiences, we hope to not only make math more engaging and relatable but also help them develop a deeper understanding of the concepts. It’s about moving beyond rote memorization and really getting students to think critically and creatively about math. And we believe that VR is a powerful tool to help us achieve that goal.
Anurupa Ganguly: Yes, that’s correct. Our initial focus is on algebra because we see that as a foundational concept that sets the stage for success in higher level math courses. We want to make sure that students have a strong understanding of algebra before moving on to more complex topics. And we believe that VR can really enhance the learning experience and help students grasp these concepts in a more tangible way.
We’re excited to see the impact that our algebra module will have on students and teachers, and we’re looking forward to expanding our offerings to cover more math topics in the future. Our goal is to make math education more accessible and engaging for all students, regardless of their background or resources. And we believe that VR technology can play a key role in achieving that goal. And he said, “You’re really young. I don’t know if you can do this.” And I said, “Well, I think I can.” And I think it’s because of the team that we have. And I think it’s because of how we’ve built this from the ground up with the school-facing team at the beginning. And we’ll see how far we get.
Mike Palmer: It sounds like you have a great team and a great vision for where this can go. It will be exciting to see how Prisms of Reality continues to grow and make an impact in education. Thank you so much for sharing your insights with us today.
Anurupa Ganguly: Thank you for having me. It’s been a pleasure to talk about our work and our mission. I’m excited to see where we go from here.
And I think that’s where we’re headed with VR and AI in education. It’s going to give us a deeper understanding of how students learn and think, allowing us to tailor education to their individual needs. It’s an exciting time to be in this field, and I’m looking forward to seeing how it continues to evolve and improve the learning experience for students everywhere.”
¿Eligen las opciones de selección múltiple? ¿Ver como, okay, Pero, en la realidad virtual ustedes no saben si me equivoqué, pero luego miré aquí y saqué este objeto 3D y lo manipulé. Y volví e hice esto, y tienes un perfil mucho más rico de cómo alguien piensa en un problema y cuando luchan, ¿qué hacen?
Y así que una cosa a tener en cuenta ahora es que a medida que tenemos más matices y una información más rica sobre el aprendizaje de los estudiantes, ¿cómo utilizamos eso y aplicamos los instrumentos de aprendizaje automático que han avanzado hasta ahora? Pero realmente no sabíamos para qué fin estábamos utilizando los datos y cuáles eran las preguntas que íbamos a utilizar los datos.
Y así que creo que la intersección del aprendizaje automático y los datos que la realidad virtual ofrece va a ser una pregunta realmente intelectualmente rica en los próximos años.
Mike Palmer: Wow. Me has puesto a pensar. No los estoy viendo en realidad virtual, pero mis ruedas están girando.
Espero que las ruedas de nuestros oyentes también estén girando. Mantente atento a Prisms of Reality. Anurupa Ganguly es la CEO y fundadora, una seguidora muy interesante. También sus artículos en Medium definitivamente valen la pena revisar. Anurupa, muchas gracias por unirte a nosotros.
Anurupa Ganguly: Muchas gracias, Mike. Fue un placer.
Mike Palmer: Y para nuestros oyentes, espero que estén disfrutando de lo que están escuchando. Si les gusta, dígaselo a un amigo, compártanos. Volveremos pronto. Esto es Trending in Education.