Redefining education by linking technology with design-method training, students learn to virtually reconstruct their community and gain the tools to change their future.

What is Imagined Communities?

Imagined Communities is an innovative educational and civic-participation project where youth learn to use emerging technologies, such as 3D rendering and augmented reality, to build a virtual replica of their neighborhoods. The youth then apply these skills to real life problems in their community by identifying and redesigning areas of need: an abandoned lot becomes a community garden, a pocket-park, or a playground. Community-chosen re-designs are then realized in the physical neighborhood, bridging the virtual and real worlds. In the process of conceptualizing, designing, and building virtual and augmented environments, the youth are learning the foundations for job-readiness training in communications, mathematics, and technology, with the essential social and psychological skills of collaboration, problem-solving, responsibility, and intrinsic motivation based on new developments in cognitive science and the proven effectiveness of immersive education . Through a unique mentoring program students are also offered in-project employment.

Putting New Technology to Work

Imagined Communities brings innovation to education, social impact, and personal growth and vision in a way unprecedented by public policy solutions to date by integrating augmented reality applications.  Most business and technology experts argue that augmented reality has the potential to have … [Read More...]

We live in a world of multiple and shifting identities.

Technology and reactions against globalization have facilitated a shift in which local environments and groups are rising in import and prominence. In this environment, cities are challenged to market themselves in an entrepreneurial fashion distinct from that of the state or nation, promoting their own, unique attractions to draw investors, businesses, residents, and tourists.

What is Augmented Reality?

Augmented Reality takes real-time information in the form of video, images, audio, and text, and, through the use of glifs (icons) or geotags (geographically located GPS tags), allows users to access the information on demand. By designing augmented reality "assets," Imagined Communities' teams can insert what's important to them and their communities into augmented form and re-design the environment. … [Read More...]

Cognitive Mapping for Change

600x400 cogmap

Cognitive maps are the mental representations, images, or models we create based on our perceptions of ourselves and our environment. These exist as neural spatial networks which link past experience with … [Read More...]

Daniel Pink on Motivation

This video by RSA Animate shows the power of design and technology coming together to enhance teaching in Daniel Pink's discussion of how to create intrinsic motivation to learn.

Source: RSA Animate

Thinking to the Future

It's time we started using our power through choices and media technologies to promote the behaviors we want to see--not those we can't help but see or wish we hadn't. Let's use the excitement and engagement … [Read More...]

Our Partners

Imagined Communities has exciting partnership opportunities for cities, corporations, and foundations who want to be viewed as innovators and leaders Imagined Communities is breaking new ground by integrating emerging technologies into an … [Read More...]

Image is Our Blueprint

Cognitive psychology tells us that the image we have of place and ourselves either limits or expands our possibilities. As made famous in the turn-around of New York City, the Broken Windows theory operates from this principle: if a person’s surroundings are filled with negative images – broken windows, blight, graffiti - crime is higher and the ability to transcend these urban ills is diminished. … [Read More...]

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