Immersive learning is about enjoying whilst learning in either a safe and controlled environment or even within an e learning environment. It is a very interactive environment that can be virtual or physical. Immersive learning is about the learner assimilating new experiences that can be accommodated through a multi-sensory way, Christou (2010) stated that “humans construct knowledge by learning from their experiences.”
Through utilising technology in immersive learning in a way that encourages discussion, challenges, promotes human centred interaction, teamwork, play and is therefore, holistic, all these skills for the future are in real terms able to transfer to the world of work. Immersive learning can be seen as a way of moving forward as it can be brought into the classroom and used at the highest levels of education for university students, which will develop all types of learning and be adapted within different learning concepts, that will enhance creativity and empathy. (Clarke et al, 2017).
Drawing on an experience I have inside of an escape room, based on the Jigsaw movies, whereby I was completely immersed in the situation. It began in a dark room with very poor lighting and being chained to the wall by my foot. As it was very dark in the room, we had to figure out how to get out of our chains from using what was around us and using our senses such as, feeling our surroundings for any clues, to remembering every code you have found to see if any of them work on any of the locks. The scenario felt very realistic from the design on the walls to the small details that were given in the clues. As there was only an hour to unchain ourselves and escape the room we were unsuccessful in the escape, however, considering it was all of the team’s first time, including mine, in an escape room and that this is the most difficult one that the company had with a 3% escape rate, there was still a lot of effort made due to the experience being so believable and difficult.
I have also been volunteering for a local scout’s group, which has their own version of an immersive learning experience. This game is called Mission Impossible, as the young people must make their way from one side of the room to the other with a few obstacles in their way. The first obstacle is that the room is completely dark. Another obstacle includes having tables and chairs all around the room. An extra obstacle is that each young person will have something on them that will create a jingle noise, for example a set of keys or a bell. The reason the young people will have these is because there is also another person who will sit on the other side of the room ready to catch their peers out. This person will only be able to do this through having a torch that they can only turn on for a few seconds at a time every so often and aim the light at someone, they must also name the person that they are catching out, otherwise they won’t be out of the game. This is an example of immersive learning as the game includes the participants being completely immersed within their surroundings, which is similar to an escape room.
