Background

To explore the field of immersive learning, we first need to understand what it is. We started this journey by looking into the existing literatures. For example, we listed four representative ones from various sources.

Immersive learning places individuals in an interactive learning environment, either physically or virtually, to replicate possible scenarios or teach particular skills or techniques.

Trainingindustry.com, 2017

The use of virtual worlds, with text-based, voice-based and a feeling of ‘presence’ naturally is allowing for more complex social interactions and designed learning experiences and role plays, as well as encouraging learner empowerment through increased interactivity

De Freitas et al., 2010
Learning as immersive experiences, British Journal of Educational Technology, 41(1), pp.69-85.

Immersive in the sense that I am ‘in’ the learning experience and I am practicing doing the things that I need to do better … I am practicing and I am getting real-time feedback and I am getting better

Koreen Olbrish Pagano, 2013
Immersive Learning: Designing for Authentic Practice, ASTD Press

Immersive learning simulations … allow learners to not only see information as text or pictures on a screen or book, but the ability to manipulate and interact in their learning environment in an entirely new way.

Carnahan, C, 2010 Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference, Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education

The Model

Based on reviewing the literatures and distilling the essentials, we constructed a simplified model of immersive learning, which includes four key components from both the learner and learning environment’s perspective.

Specifically, autonomy and presence are two key elements for the leaners in any immersive learning experiences. On the other hand, the learning enviornment includes, at a minimal, two dimensions on realism and learning subject.

To further clarify this model, we will use a concrete example based on our experience on running immersive learning workshop on geography.

An Example

We have designed and run incursion workshops with Google Earth VR. It is a great tool to deliver immersive learning on geography for senior primary and scendary students.

Learner’s perspective

Autonomy

Google Earth VR provides a first-person, fully interactive tool for learners to interact with the earth and places of interest in a variety of ways. For example a student can easily do these tasks.

Change the time of day
Zoom in and out at different geographic scales
Navigate by physically or virtually walk or flying around
Tilt up and down the landscape
Select and immerse in 360 street view photos when available
and much more …

There is a curated places of interest (e.g., natural wonders, historical heritage) for learners to explore. Besides those, a student can choose to search, identify visit any places of her interests.

Presence

At the moment, Google Earth VR is available only in high-end, room-scale virtual reality equipments (e.g., HTC Vive, Oculus Rift).

With these high-end VR systems, a student can interact with the content in 6DOF (6 degree of freedom), i.e., forward-backward, left-right, up-down, roll, yaw and pitch.

Regarding sensory input, visual and audio are the major channels at the moment. Others like haptic are not included in Google Earth VR yet.

Technology enabled presence provides a learner to shape emotional connection with the learning subject. For example, Google Earth VR can provide awe eliciting experience according to a study carried out at the iSpace Lab at Simon Frasier University.

Learning Environment's Perspective

Realism

Google Earth VR belongs to the category of pure virtual reality. It provides three levels of realism regarding the places and objects on the earth.

Lowest level: similar as 2D maps experienced in 3D environment. For example, buildings and mountains are represented as 2D shapes.
Mid-level: there are places reconstructed as 3D models with high fidelity where students can navigate around
Real-world level: 360 degree photos of the street-view when available

High Fidelity 3D

The Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany, the inspiration for Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle, reconstructed as high fidelity 3D data.

360 Street View

Students can immerse themselves in the real-world street view recorded in the form of 360 photos. They are widely available in famous tourist attractions.

Learning Subject

As a general purpose tool, there are no explicit instructional feedback, regarding particular knowledge or skill areas, incorporated in Google Earth VR.

However, Google Earth VR provides a direct experience of concepts like scale, places (e.g., cities, continents), geographic diversity (both natural and cultural).

With a teacher’s help (i.e., additional instructions), students can build the linkage between the direct experience and the conceptual meaning of that experience thus achieve the learning objects.

We believe Google Earth VR alone is not enough for teaching the subject. The figure nearby summarise our thoughts.

Summary

Due to the technologies’ limitation (e.g., the capacity of virtual/augmented reality hardwares) and rocket high development cost, immersive learning has been wandering around the major education landscape for at least two decades.

However, technologies have advanced to a certain degree that the limitations have been greatly alleviated. According to Gartnar, both virtual reality and augmented reality, which are two are two pillars of immersive learning, are on their way to mass adoption. For those who are interested, check this article from Gartner.

Therefore, it is, we believe, a good time to revisit and invite immersive learning back to the stage, to get the attention it deserves.

Afterall, no matter what approaches or tools we use, the ultimate goal is to serve our children and younger generations, to equip and empower them with the best opportunities to build a bright future.

If immersive learning can contribute to this aim, why not give it a shot?

What is Immersive Learning

Background

The Model

An Example