Local Innovations Highlighted at GVSU's Reach Higher Showcase: From Virtual Courtrooms to Brewing Badges

The Reach Higher Showcase took place on April 12, 2024, with around 150 projects on display for over 400 attendees. The projects were in line with GVSU’s Reach Higher Commitments, focusing on educational experiences, lifelong learning, and educational equity. Five notable projects included a virtual courtroom, a digital twin, a puppet troupe, and two brewing badges.

The virtual courtroom, the first innovation, was created by GVSU’s Legal Studies faculty and IT Innovation and Research teams. This project uses virtual reality to give students a comprehensive view of a courtroom in the 61st District Court in Grand Rapids. The VR Courtroom provides an interactive experience, helping students understand the court system. The team plans to add more VR experiences.

The second innovation, the Digital Twin, is a virtual model of a physical object. Developed by GVSU Blue Dot, the Digital Twin can be used for campus planning, student orientation, and personalized education. The exhibit demonstrated two applications of the Digital Twin: a virtual double for real-world experiences and a tool for visualizing future architectural projects.

The Dragoncillo Puppet Troupe, the third innovation, is a puppetry troupe that performs bilingual (English and Spanish) stories. The troupe uses custom-made, 3D-printed puppets to educate and entertain audiences. The performances are interactive and allow the audience to ask questions and interact with the puppets.

The fourth and fifth innovations are two brewing badges developed by the Cell and Molecular Biology Department. The Homebrewing Badge and the Craft Brewing Badge are earned through courses that teach students about beer brewing, beer styles, and beer assessment. The badges aim to educate students about the various aspects of beer.

These five projects showcased at the Reach Higher event demonstrate the commitment to educational experiences, lifelong learning, and educational equity. They represent innovative approaches to enhance learning and engagement in various fields.

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