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University of Nevada Las Vegas to Build VR Learning Hub for STEM Courses

A new immersive learning center at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas is tapping into the power of virtual reality to support STEM engagement and student success. The institution has partnered with Dreamscape Learn on the initiative, which will incorporate the company's interactive VR platform into introductory STEM courses.

Dreamscape Learn is a collaboration between Arizona State University and Dreamscape Immersive that utilizes the storytelling style of the entertainment industry to create virtual reality course content grounded in advanced pedagogy, the company explained in a news announcement. Its flagship product, Biology in the Alien Zoo, provides an immersive set of biology missions in which students must analyze and solve life science problems using the quantitative techniques and scientific understanding of practicing biologists.

Research at ASU found that students who enrolled in introductory biology courses that incorporated Dreamscape VR technology were nearly two times more likely to receive A grades on their lab assignments, compared to those in regular sections, the company reported.

UNLV is one of the first R1 research universities to deploy the Dreamscape platform. The university is building a 4,000-square-foot VR space on the second floor of its Lied Library, which will include a 16-seat immersive classroom for "engaging storytelling, realistic visuals and sound effects, motion and vibrations, lighting, music, and hands-on learning experiences," a "freeroam" instructional pod (similar to the mechanism used in the movie and theme park industries), as well as a collaborative VR development space for faculty and students.

"As global demand for a workforce with specialized STEM skills increases, UNLV is on a mission to better prepare our students for excellence," commented UNLV President Keith E. Whitfield, in a statement. "The Dreamscape Learn Center will envelop students in diverse, life-like scenarios that introduce complex STEM concepts and require real-time problem-solving skills. It's just the latest strategy UNLV is using to introduce experiential learning experiences that spark students' intellectual curiosity and show them how to apply theoretical knowledge to everyday issues."

"Through research at ASU, we've seen that the strategic integration of great storytelling — brought to life through VR — can create classroom experiences that significantly boost student motivation and performance," said Josh Reibel, CEO of Dreamscape Learn. "We know that this innovative approach can help address persistent gaps in STEM education, and set students up early in their college career for success. As one of our first R-1 partners, we're looking forward to working with, and learning alongside, UNLV."

About the Author

Rhea Kelly is editor in chief for Campus Technology, THE Journal, and Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

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