How Immersive Spaces Enhance Education

Education is always changing, and people are constantly looking for new ways to make learning more engaging and effective. Virtual reality (VR) is a particular form of learning that is becoming increasingly popular, with many schools adopting this technology. (1)

Immersive spaces are the next generation of VR learning environments. From stimulation to relaxation, the spaces can be adapted to suit the individual needs of each pupil.

An immersive space is the ultimate classroom, sensory room and therapy room all in one! The ground-breaking platform combines high definition (HD) projection on multiple walls and floors, with stunning audio to produce sensory experiences which are inclusive for all.

The collaborative space doesn’t use traditional VR headsets, meaning that pupils can explore these exciting environments with their peers and teachers, creating a shared experience.

Removing the need for headsets makes virtual reality more accessible, particularly for those with special educational needs, who may find headsets difficult or uncomfortable to use.

An immersive space allows teachers to take the lesson in a more normal way, which would be difficult to achieve with VR headsets – where each pupil would be isolated from the outside world.
Pupils are able to look around and explore the virtual surroundings, but in a way that keeps them engaged with their teachers and peers.

Superb 360˚ images wrap around the room, creating the feeling that you are really there. The spaces create unique opportunities for children to learn, explore, and even practice real life scenarios.

Students learn better through experience, (2) however, some experiences aren’t possible or practical for all students, due to reasons such as lack of funds, disabilities or transport issues.
VR means that schools can save time and money, whilst providing students from all backgrounds with incredible experiences. Students can learn about the world around them in a safe and controlled environment.

Immersive spaces allow every student to have the same opportunity to enjoy the experiences on offer. Unlike traditional school trips that may be too expensive for parents, or impractical for children with disabilities, our virtual spaces are accessible for all.

Take pupils on a journey back through time, helping them visualise exactly what they’re learning about – this is especially useful for lessons such as history and geography, where pupils benefit from being immersed in the areas and time periods they’re studying.

Visit a Japanese temple, explore a Viking village, and even travel to ancient Egypt! These visually appealing scenes give students a better understanding of historical events and places, whilst being entertaining at the same time.

This is also beneficial to teachers, who can explain subjects in more detail, because of the supporting content, giving lessons a context. Instead of reading a large amount of text in a textbook, pupils can experience subjects first hand, making learning more engaging and dynamic.

Never before has something so technically complex and inspirational been so easy to use. Designed to be intuitive for all users, using Immersive Reality’s system is exceptionally easy and does not require any technical knowledge. Simply press a button on a wireless tablet to select a scene – and that\’s it! Teachers can change from subject to subject with ease.

Immersive spaces spark the imagination and encourage creative thinking. This in turn inspires creative writing, as pupils can be asked to write about what they have seen within the room.

Children can also be asked to look around the space and talk about what they see – this is perfect for encouraging interaction, which is especially beneficial for more introverted pupils, as it reduces social barriers.

Not only can immersive spaces help pupils to learn, but our range of content at Immersive Reality also includes simulations, such as navigating the London underground, going shopping, catching a bus and boarding an aircraft.

These help the development of many key life skills, including navigation skills, social skills, time keeping and decision making, amongst many others.

Because the simulations can be practiced with someone they trust, these ‘scary’ situations can be trialled and tested in a safe and familiar environment. And if it gets too much, the system can whisk them away somewhere safe.

There are many safe and relaxing scenes within our system, which can help anxious or overwhelmed children to relax and calm down. This includes calming meadows, as well as interactive scenes, where children can draw on the walls and interact with fun colours and shapes.

Simulations have been found to be especially helpful for students with special education needs, such as autism. Studies show that children with autism can apply skills they have learnt in a virtual environment to the real world. (3)

Here at Immersive Reality, we can develop custom made content to exact requirements – be it a geographical area, a detailed simulation, a certain subject or a high definition 360˚ video. It can be developed using CGI (computer generated imagery), ultra HD images or video. The possibilities within an immersive space are endless!

The examples discussed in this article show the amazing possibilities of virtual reality within immersive spaces as an educational tool. Pupils can grasp information much more easily when they are able to visualise concepts that were previously only available through a textbook.

Immersive spaces provide a fun, unique and engaging alternative to traditional learning, as they ensure that all students have the opportunity to get involved with a range of experiences.

If you’d like to find out more about Immersive Reality, contact us on 0161 731 0010 or email us at [email protected]. We’d love to hear from you!

You can also fill out our contact form here.