Bergen County Academy’s Vision for the Future of Education with syGlass
In a classroom at Bergen County Academies, located in northern New Jersey, a group of students slip on VR headsets for the first time. Their faces lighting up as they immerse themselves in a world of three-dimensional scientific data. One student zooms in on an MRI scan, rotating it in space to examine the intricate details of a brain tumor. A student carefully navigates a CT scan of a human jaw, rotating and zooming in to examine every facet of tooth and bone structure. Aspiring to become a dentist, he’s now able to study real human scans with syGlass, gaining hands-on experience in anatomical analysis long before setting foot in dental school.
Bergen County Academies high school student explores and explains human CT data in syGlass.
This isn’t just any classroom—it’s the future of education in action.
A Leap into the Future of Learning
Bergen County Academies has long been known for its commitment to innovation, but the introduction of syGlass, an advanced 3D visualization tool, is pushing the boundaries of student research like never before. What started as a cutting-edge tool for neuroscience research has now evolved into a transformative educational experience across multiple scientific disciplines.
During a recent National Consortium of Secondary STEM Schools (NCSSS) webinar, educators and technology leaders shared how syGlass is revolutionizing student engagement with complex datasets. Unlike traditional 2D imaging, syGlass enables students to step inside the data: seeing, exploring, and analyzing scientific models in stereoscopic 3D.
Dr. Jasmine Valentin, District Supervisor of Research and Innovation at Bergen County Academies, emphasizes how the school’s mission aligns perfectly with this technology. She shared that the Academies strive to give students authentic learning experiences, interdisciplinary opportunities, and the best professional development for teachers. syGlass allows them to bring that vision to life.
Making Research More Immersive
The school’s VR lab is now home to groundbreaking student projects, from medical imaging innovations to bioengineering breakthroughs. With syGlass, students now have the ability to work with real-world scientific data, gaining insights that were previously only available at the university or research level.
Teachers have noticed an immediate impact—students adapt quickly to the immersive environment, using the platform for interactive presentations, collaborative learning, and deeper data analysis. It’s more than just engagement; it’s about building critical skills in communication, research, and problem-solving—key competencies for future STEM careers.
A Future of Collaboration and Exploration
But Bergen County Academies isn’t stopping here. The school is actively exploring collaborations with institutions like the Museum of Natural History in New York City, bringing museum-quality scans into the classroom. Additionally, discussions are underway with other NCSSS-affiliated schools to develop a multiplayer VR learning environment—where students can analyze and interact with data together, no matter where they are in the world.
A New Standard for Education
As technology continues to reshape the landscape of education, Bergen County Academies is proving that innovation isn’t just about having the latest tools—it’s about how those tools empower students to think critically, explore fearlessly, and prepare for a future driven by discovery.
With syGlass, students aren’t just learning about science: they’re stepping inside it. And in doing so, they’re shaping the future of education itself.
