INVITATION TO JOIN THE IMMERSIVE LEARNING RESEARCH NETWORK (iLRN) Link to join (free): https://immersivelrn.org/get-involved/membership/ *** About iLRN *** The Immersive Learning Research Network (iLRN at http://immersivelrn.org) connects educators, developers, and researchers to work together on developing the scientific, technical, and applied potential of immersive learning. New and emerging virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR), and other related technologies (collectively known as “XR”) present new opportunities for tackling some of the world’s most capacious and pressing societal, environmental, and economic problems; iLRN seeks to foster a global, interdisciplinary community of scholarship and practice, founded on the principles of open science and open design, aimed at leveraging these opportunities for the good of our planet and its inhabitants. *** Current Activities *** 1. Immersive Learning Research Network Conference (IEEE technically co-sponsored) Now in its sixth year, iLRN's annual international conference is the premier scholarly event focusing on advances in the use of XR and immersive technologies to support learners and learning. The theme of iLRN 2020, which will take place in San Luis Obispo, California, is "Vision 2020: Hindsight, Insight, and Foresight in XR and Immersive Learning." iLRN 2020 is an IEEE Education Society technically cosponsored conference. Visit the conference website at https://immersivelrn.org/ilrn2020/ 2. The State of XR and Immersive Learning This project, led by iLRN and conducted in partnership with IEEE ICICLE, EDUCAUSE, and the Consortium for School Networking, combines an ongoing systematic review and synthesis of the evidence/knowledge base on “what works” in XR and immersive learning with an annual Delphi-inspired environmental scanning and forecasting exercise in the vein of the well-known Horizon Project. The 2020 State of XR and Immersive Learning Report is sponsored by HP, Unity Technologies, Adobe, zSpace, Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corporation, and SpringboardVR. See https://immersivelrn.org/about-us/state-of-xr-and-immersive-learning/ 3. iLRN Houses By offering resources, tools, and forums for experts to meet, share, and collaborate, iLRN strives to assist and promote the development of knowledge, skills, principles, and practices throughout the multitude of enterprises where the unique affordances of the technology may be powerfully harnessed to support and catalyze human learning and achievement. iLRN Houses have been/are being established that focus on: immersive place-based learning; XR in medical and healthcare education; language, culture, and heritage; workforce development and industry training; supporting vulnerable and underrepresented learner populations; nature and environmental sciences; assessment in XR; and K-12 STEM education. If you are interested in becoming involved in one or more of these Houses, please get in touch with us: https://immersivelrn.org/contact-us/ 4. iLRN Chapters Chapters are geographical subdivisions of iLRN that cater to the needs of members within a particular city, state/province, or country and that champion the mission and goals of iLRN within that geographical area with the purpose of showcasing and promoting immersive learning capabilities within that area. Each Chapter organizes its own face-to-face activities and events that serve as forums for members to meet, interact, share ideas/knowledge, and collaborate. If you are interested in joining or forming a local iLRN Chapter, please get in touch: https://immersivelrn.org/contact-us/ 5. The Versatilist iLRN's official podcast, The Versatilist, covers and discusses both the latest news in immersive learning across the disciplines as well as hosting guests who do important work in various capacities in this emerging field of expertise. For more details, please see http://podcast.immersivelrn.org 6. iLRN Happy Hours Each Friday at 5:00pm US Eastern time, grab a beer or other beverage of your choice and join iLRN President/CEO Jonathon Richter on our Discord server for wide-ranging conversations about all things immersive. (Upon joining iLRN, members receive an invitation to join our Discord server.) Beginning in early 2020, iLRN Happy Hours will rotate between various social and collaborative VR and AR/MR platforms to give participants opportunities to experience the features and affordances of those platforms while engaging in discussions about topics of interest within the realm of XR for learning and collaboration. *** iLRN Membership *** Basic individual membership of iLRN is currently free of charge. Any researcher, developer, educator, or business person is welcome to join the network to receive newsletters and relevant information: https://immersivelrn.org/get-involved/membership/ Premium levels of iLRN membership will be introduced in the near future that includes voting privileges, access to special reports, research opportunities, discounts to iLRN events, and more. Organizational memberships are also offered at rates commensurates with the size of the organization and the relationship desired. Please contact us for details: https://immersivelrn.org/contact-us/