As students are needing more mental stimuli than ever before, immersive learning is set to birth a new face for educational spaces. Traditionally, when we conjure up images of a classroom, we think up illustrations that show lines of perfectly-aligned tables and chairs, all positioned to face an interactive display at the front of the class. This has been the arrangement of educational spaces for decades, where teachers would stand before a projector screen, whiteboard and a blackboard before that, delivering spoken information and roughly drawn diagrams to classrooms full of unengaged students.
Modern interactive technologies, such as interactive displays, have paved the way for digital innovation by putting interactive tools and gamified resources at the fingertips of teachers. But even so, educators are comprehending that the one-size-fits-all approach to learning isn’t working the way it once did. Today’s generation of students are digitally savvy and have a lower attention span than previous generations, and so this comes with it a starvation for a different approach to education.
When we recognize that every student is unique and learns in a different way to their peers, we automatically adopt a need for adaptable, interactive spaces that engage every child, no matter their academic or physical ability. And this is the conundrum that immersive technology seeks to solve through immersive learning.
So, what exactly is immersive learning?
Immersive learning is an educational approach that bridges the gap between theory and practice by utilising interactive and realistic environments to engage students on a deeper level. Leveraging technologies such as augmented and virtual reality to enhance understanding and retention, students are transported into lifelike simulations and can explore through sight, smell, sound and touch.
How will Immersive Learning Change the Face of Education?
Immersive classrooms already exist. We’re specialists in their design and installation. But as this technology continues to advance and virtual reality continues to become more sophisticated, we expect to see schools, colleges and universities adopt immersive learning on an even larger scale.
For context, an immersive classroom is a room, usually square and 4×4 in size, that is powered by advanced wall and floor projectors that project virtual and augmented reality images. This is fully interactive and completely customisable within our software, and can be further brought to life through atmospherics, such as LED lighting, wind and aroma. This one, completely adaptable space can be transitioned into a classroom to suit the needs of any age group, from pre-schoolers right through to university graduates. The adaptability of this room also means that the space can be customized for children with additional needs and can be used as a calming sanctuary to learn through multi-sensory experiences.
With all of this in mind, it is completely believable that in the very near future, we will witness an insurgence of immersive classrooms in schools. This means more interactive experiences and more simulated learning environments powered by augmented and virtual reality. And with this adoption of flexible technologies comes even wider learning opportunities that are guaranteed to enhance learning outcomes and information retention. For example, learners won’t just learn about dinosaurs or space or history itself, but they will be able to experience it through realistic and practical experiences that are even further enhanced by the immersion of a real-world atmosphere.
Stand in a crowded bomb shelter during world war two as you feel the trembles of bombs being dropped. Hear the distant whir of air raid sirens as you’re greeted by the overpowering smell of fire. And experience the trepidation those felt at the time in an experience that won’t soon be forgotten.
Immersive learning is the future of education. Immersive Classrooms are the new way of experiencing the world. And with this, comes a new generation of learners.
Want to know more? Visit our immersive classroom page or contact our friendly and specialist sales team today to discuss your options.