The one aspect cemented since the inception of technology is Change. There is always an unending race of producing faster, better, and effective technological solutions that supersede the previous version(s) and prove better for end-users. In education technology as well, the scenario is nothing different as new progresses are being made on a regular basis to develop robust solutions for students.

Over a period of time, there has been a drastic change in the way education has been looked at by global lenses. The classrooms don’t appear like what they looked a decade ago. Digital whiteboards are replacing blackboards, and Chromebooks are slowly taking the position which was earlier reserved for textbooks. Digital applications are reshaping the old school, passive way of conducting classes, assignments, quizzes, tests, and other educational purposes to engaging, interactive sessions. 

What Is Immersive Learning And What Makes It So Useful?

Immersive learning is one of the new members of education technology, created for boosting students’ engagement and retention ability. It is the digital approach that uses artificial or simulated environments for encouraging students and developing their immersive learning capability. 

“Your ward needs to develop his focus in studies as he doesn’t concentrate on what is being taught in class”. It’s not surprising for many parents to receive this remark from teachers in the report card. Focus is a major issue in this technology-oriented world for Gen Z as they have plenty of options to daydream about and get lost in their world. As every student is gifted with a unique ability to focus, it is a big challenge to get everyone involved completely in the learning process. To counter this issue, immersive learning serves as the future of education that leverages digital technologies such as 3D technology, mixed reality (MR), virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR) for making students study and learn in a whole new way. These four technologies help in involving more senses of human beings and are based on neuroscience research that lets the brain treat experiences through visual illusion and grasp information in a lively environment. 

Imagine yourself swimming with sharks and seeing and experiencing the underwater life by simply putting on a headset and grasping every sight and sound the way it is in the real world. Well, this is an immersive learning approach that takes students into the virtual arena and gives them free hand in using their observations, and makes learning personalized, fun, and memorable. The rich learning practice is one of the exciting developments in the education and training industry that is adding the quotient of excitement in the boring learning environment. 

Gartner has stated that as of 2021, 60% of higher education institutions in the US are using VR for developing an advanced and enhanced simulation and learning environment.

Technologies Involved In Immersive Learning 

• Virtual Reality 

Virtual Reality uses computer technology for creating a simulated environment that connects all human senses and develops a real-world scenario. Through VR headsets, students can immerse themselves and travel to anywhere they feel like, even if it’s geographically dispersed. 

• Augmented Reality 

In Augmented Reality, digital simulations are being used for modifying the real-world setting. The technology lets students experience the digital content in a highly visual and engaging setup making it the same as a real-world situation. 

• Mixed Reality 

A blend of augmented and virtual reality, mixed reality technology places virtual objects in the real world and makes interactions highly realistic. It uses an arrangement of cameras, sensors, and AI-powered technologies for connecting the user to navigate the real and virtual world at the same time simultaneously. 

• 3D Learning 

One of the issues observed in e-learning is the isolation that does not allow students to train in a social circle. 3D immersive learning fills this gap and does the job of keeping the users engaged by providing the storytelling experience through visualizations that develop problem-solving abilities in a personalized way. 

Benefits Of Adopting Immersive Learning In Education Sector

Below are some points that decode the benefits of implementing immersive learning practices:

• Learning Through Experience

Our brains are wired to retain information in a better way when all our senses are involved. Immersive learning provides a learner-oriented, highly interactive experience through self-guided experiences, making students explore everything in their way.

Edger Dale’s “Cone of Experience”, shows that the number of senses involved while learning increases the effectiveness and grasping power of humans.

Source: https://www.queensu.ca/teachingandlearning/modules/active/documents/Dales_Cone_of_Experience_summary.pdf

• Emotional Connect

Immersive learning harnesses the power of emotions to connect with the audience. When students perform pragmatic and meaningful interactions in the virtual environment, it creates an emotional bond that boosts up the learning process. 

• Providing Learning Analytics

Immersive learning provides students with valuable data that reflects their performance at the end/during their learning sessions. Using the analytics, students get meaningful insights and get a crystal-clear picture of their strengths and weaknesses for enhancing the graph of their learning experience. 

Final Thoughts 

Immersive learning holds the ability to revolutionize the education world by promoting active participation among students and increasing their knowledge and skills. It allows students from all parts of the world to understand, connect and develop cross-cultural relations that advocate harmony and diversity.

We hope you enjoyed reading this five minute content that displayed the importance of immersive learning in the education sector. If you like to share your experiences or add on some points that you think we skipped, write to us on hello@sarvika.com. The world works better when we share information with each other.