WEST COLUMBIA, SC – Gray Collegiate Academy (GCA) students will get to experiment with a new hands-on way of learning thanks to a grant from the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE). GCA, along with 29 other schools in South Carolina, applied for and was chosen to participate in the South Carolina Career and Technical Education (CTE) Immersive Learning Academy.
With this program, students can learn on a fully immersive, Virtual Reality (VR) platform called VXRLabs. This software uses VR to host global field trips, offer simulators for learning, tutor students through the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) figures, and more.
GCA will be using this innovative program to participate in VR Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses. This provides an opportunity for hands-on learning and experience in the healthcare, trades, technology, and life sciences fields. This, in turn, will allow GCA to continue to work toward their goal of producing career-ready students upon graduation.
“Here at GCA, we’re always looking for the next cutting-edge way that we can make the learning experience even better for our students,” said GCA Principal Dr. Newsome. “When the opportunity presented itself to get involved with Virtual Reality technology, it was a no-brainer. We’re ecstatic that our students will be able to get this hands-on experience without having to physically leave the classroom.”
Gray Collegiate Academy is located in West Columbia, South Carolina, and serves grades 6-12. GCA focuses on dual-credit opportunities for students and college preparedness. The school has had an over 99% graduation rate for the last five years, and an Excellent rating on the State Report Card since the 2019-2020 school year. GCA is authorized through the Charter Institute at Erskine.
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The Charter Institute at Erskine is the fastest-growing school district in South Carolina. Serving 27 schools and approximately 26,000 students across the state, the Charter Institute at Erskine is committed to innovative, creative, high-quality methods of education. For more information about the Institute, please visit www.erskinecharters.org.
