News & Trends

Education is no longer confined to rows of desks and hardcover textbooks in classrooms and lecture halls. Cutting-edge education technology is transforming the landscape of scholastic learning, turning education into immersive experiences that engage students in dynamic ways. Dreamscape Learn stands at the forefront of this revolution, offering immersive experiences that let students step into complex subjects as active participants in the learning process.

What is Dreamscape Learn?

Dreamscape Learn is an educational platform that uses virtual reality (VR), storytelling, and curriculum-based content to reimagine how science and other topics are taught in schools, colleges, and beyond. This platform was born out of the desire by Arizona State University (ASU) President Michael Crow to transform the learning experience in higher education beyond passive learning to exploring, simulating, and experiencing the material first-hand.

Crow envisioned something far more revolutionary than digital tools. He set his sights on learning experiences that would keep students engaged, spark their curiosity, and deepen their understanding of the subject matter. This quest led him to Hollywood, and eventually to the launch of Dreamscape Learn as a way to bring learning to life in ways that textbooks and static lectures can’t match.

The Partnership

Crow’s desire to transform classroom learning led him to Walter Parkes, a renowned film producer and the one-time head of DreamWorks Pictures, who later went on to create Dreamscape Immersive. Park’s company was already a leader in interactive VR experiences, acclaimed for its high-quality, fully immersive worlds that allow users to step into dynamic environments.

When Crow visited Parke’s Dreamscape Immersive VR Center in 2019, he was struck by its stunning realism and the interactivity of its experiences. Convinced that VR could revolutionize student engagement, he saw the potential for a new approach to learning. That meeting sparked a collaboration between the two visionaries, culminating in the launch of Dreamscape Learn in 2022.

Platform Features

Dreamscape Learn engages students in learning more deeply, promoting critical thinking, interactive collaboration, and real-world problem-solving through the following features:

• Immersive VR Experiences: Students enter detailed virtual worlds using VR headsets and full-body tracking, and can interact with objects and peers for a fully immersive experience.
• Collaborative Learning: Shared VR environments encourage students to work in teams, jointly solving problems, exchanging ideas, and build communication skills.
• Experiential Learning: Students explore study areas firsthand in virtual settings, even experiencing different ecosystems inside the human body, enabling abstract concepts to become tangible in a way that boosts understanding and recall.
• Learning Management Systems Integration: Dreamscape Learn syncs effortlessly with major learning management platforms, helping to streamline student tracking, grading, and course alignment as students progress through the curriculum.
• Narrative-Based Learning: Lessons unfold through immersive, story-driven experiences, helping students emotionally connect to content, enhancing comprehension, retention, and classroom engagement.
• Content Development Tools for Educators: Teachers can create custom VR modules tailored to their courses, which adds flexibility and greater personalization to lesson planning and design.
• Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving: Students analyze, hypothesize, and test ideas in virtual labs, helping them build decision-making skills and sharpen their analytical thinking for real-world application.
  
  

Market Position

Since its official launch, Dreamscape Learn has become a leader in educational immersive technology. The platform has expanded its reach beyond the study of biology, with courses now available in subjects like chemistry, art history, earth science, and more. This expansion demonstrates the adaptability of the platform and its potential to revolutionize education in a wide range of disciplines.

In the competitive world of immersive learning, Dreamscape Learn stands out. While companies offer educational tools for specific sectors, such as healthcare or manufacturing, Dreamscape Learn’s emphasis on storytelling and its adaptability across multiple academic fields set it apart.

The Technology Behind Dreamscape Learn

At the heart of Dreamscape Learn is an intricate blend of advanced technologies that make the immersive experience possible:

1. VR: The platform uses VR headsets to place students in interactive 3D environments. These aren’t just passive visual simulations—they are dynamic, story-driven worlds that respond to the student’s actions and decisions.
2. Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI personalizes the learning experience by adjusting the difficulty of challenges to match the student’s pace. It can also offer guidance within the simulation, ensuring that students stay engaged and on track.
3. Motion Capture and Spatial Tracking: These technologies track students’ movements, allowing them to interact with the virtual environment in a more natural, fluid way. Full-body interaction makes the experience feel more real, deepening the student’s immersion.
   

These technologies combine to create a learning environment that goes far beyond traditional methods. Rather than sitting in a classroom passively absorbing information, students become scientists, researchers, and decision-makers, tackling real-world problems in a dynamic, interactive setting.

Benefits of Dreamscape Learn in Education

The benefits of Dreamscape Learn are significant. ASU’s Action Lab studied the impact of the platform on student outcomes in two required biology classes — and the findings were striking. Over 4,000 students participated in the study, which spanned four semesters, with overwhelmingly positive outcomes:

• High Student Ratings: Virtual reality experiences received a median rating of 5 out of 5 across all semesters, showing that students found the VR sessions both engaging and effective.
• Strong Academic Performance: Students from all demographic backgrounds earned average lab grades of 90% or higher, demonstrating the platform’s ability to boost performance.
• Improved Course Grades: Students who used Dreamscape Learn in Biology 181 showed a significant quarter-letter grade improvement in Biology 182, suggesting that immersive learning has long-term academic benefits.
• Greater Success in Advanced Courses: Students who experienced Dreamscape Learn performed better in more advanced courses, including 300-level genetics, which is a difficult subject for many students.
• Higher Retention in STEM Majors: More students who participated in Dreamscape Learn-based courses stayed in life sciences majors, suggesting that immersive learning can foster greater interest and retention in challenging fields like STEM.

Thanks to these results, Dreamscape Learn is being adopted by institutions beyond ASU, including Rowan University and Catawba College in New Jersey and North Carolina, respectively, and Glendale and Merced community colleges in California.

Applications of Dreamscape Learn

While Dreamscape Learn has primarily focused on the study of biology, the platform’s versatile architecture has enabled it to be expanded into many areas of academic study, each with its own immersive, narrative-driven VR experiences for students. Other areas where the platform is having a significant impact include:

• The Sciences: Beyond biology, students use VR to explore molecular interactions in chemistry, simulate physical processes, and navigate galactic structures in outer space.
• History: Students can walk through ancient civilizations and interact with historical figures in immersive, emotionally resonant scenarios to make the study of history more engaging and memorable.
• Medical Training: For future doctors and nurses, the platform creates a safe space to practice surgeries, respond to emergencies, and tackle diagnostic challenges without the risk of real-world consequences.
• Early Education: ASU is collaborating with K-12 learning environments to bring the platform to younger learners, helping to create a foundation for immersive study in early education.

Challenges and Considerations

Despite its promise, Dreamscape Learn does face barriers to adoption that must be addressed for broader use. These challenges include:

• Cost and Accessibility: It requires schools to make a significant investment in hardware, software, and training, which those with limited resources may find difficult or infeasible.
• Technical Infrastructure: The sophisticated nature of its technical architecture requires strong IT support and regular updates to keep the platform running smoothly.
• Amount of Screen Time: Excessive screen time may be a concern; VR should be used in moderation to ensure students still engage in offline, hands-on learning.
• Curriculum Integration: Use of the platform requires significant course redesign, making integration into existing curricula challenging.
• Instructor Training: Teachers who are unfamiliar with the platform will need training to effectively integrate the technology into their teaching practices.
• Long-Term Effectiveness: While early results are promising, long-term studies are needed to measure the platform’s sustained impact.
• Equity and Inclusion: Ensuring that all students have access to the platform is critical. Disparities in access to devices and a lack of reliable internet connectivity can create inequities in learning opportunities.

As the cost of VR technology decreases and schools improve their digital infrastructures, the barriers to adoption will likely lessen to support its market expansion.

The Future of Education with Dreamscape Learn

As VR technology becomes more affordable and AI tools continue to advance, immersive learning will become even more diversified and effective. Entire curricula designed around immersive modules will give rise to more personalized learning paths and on-demand skill development. Hybrid classrooms could combine VR labs with real-time instruction to provide students with the best of both worlds.

The Takeaway

Dreamscape Learn is transforming education by creating more engaging, immersive, and effective learning experiences for students at all levels. As a result of it and other learning innovations being introduced, the future of education is evolving to be more interactive, impactful, and compelling. 

Image credit: Getty Images/miniseries