In an age where digital technology dominates, it’s easy to forget that when we talk about ‘immersive learning experiences’ as a way to nurture curiosity, we’re not always thinking about augmented reality or virtual reality.
VR and interactive simulations offer exciting possibilities, even with the world of education still striving towards digital equity. The high cost of equipment can be a barrier, especially for underfunded schools. More training is needed for educators to effectively and confidently use new tech. Quality educational content for AR and VR is still limited, and unreliable internet access in some places can be a challenge.
What we must remember, as some of us await the slow spread of mixed reality into the classroom and others wonder if they’ll ever feel at ease with it, is that teachers have been implementing immersive techniques in the classroom for many years to build curiosity – sometimes without a scrap of digital tech in sight.
The Basics of Immersion
The emergence of mixed-reality technologies has brought the phrase ‘immersive learning’ into the spotlight in recent years. But immersion isn’t a new thing.
The term ‘Immersive’ refers to an experience that deeply engages a person’s senses, emotions, and attention, creating a sense of being fully surrounded and absorbed in an environment or activity. Reading a good book, listening to a recording, playing a game—all these can be immersive experiences if the participant is truly engrossed in the activity.
All educators understand that learning can be amplified, accelerated, and absorbed better by students when they feel emotionally invested in it, can see the real-world importance of it, and experience it first-hand. This is why we take out test tubes and perform science experiments in person; why we go on field trips; why we teach abstract, moral concepts through stories with relatable characters and exciting narratives.
What we often forget is how powerful students’ minds are, and how little they need prompting to become immersed. A simple nudge is enough to start up the green screen inside each student’s mind, ready to generate their own virtual world and learn within it. When a little extra nudge is required to spark that curiosity, there’s no need to jump straight to technology. Start with the senses.
Sensory Learning Can Tip the Scale Towards Curiosity
Our senses are incredibly powerful in creating memories, forming connections in our brain, and developing emotional relationships. Have you ever smelled something that has taken you back in time to a place or a person? Perhaps you’ve read a book and been so engrossed that you forget where you really are for a moment. Even while listening to music, we sometimes allow ourselves to be carried away by the idea of being a global singing sensation. This is because our senses play a crucial role in how we perceive and remember the world around us.
Research indicates that multisensory learning experiences can significantly enhance students’ ability to retain information and understand complex concepts. By engaging multiple senses simultaneously, we activate different areas of the brain – and the more senses that are telling the brain the same story, the more likely the student is to suspend disbelief and allow themselves to be absorbed.
Here are some practical ways to amplify learning activities using the five senses.
1. Sound
Create a soundscape together by making sounds that you might hear in your chosen setting. For example, if the lesson is about exploring Antarctica, include the howling wind, the crunch of footsteps on snow, and the distant call of penguins. For ancient Rome, try the sounds of a bustling marketplace, chariots on cobblestones, and Roman soldiers marching.
2. Taste
Introduce foods or ingredients used by specific peoples or at key historical events. For instance, when studying ancient civilizations, you might bring in samples of traditional Roman bread or Egyptian dates. During a unit on the American Revolution, tasting hardtack or dried apples can make history tangible and relatable.
3. Smell
Smell is one of the strongest senses linked to memory. Use essential oils, spices, or other aromatic materials to evoke settings. For instance, the smell of incense can help students imagine an ancient temple, while the scent of pine needles might bring a forest ecosystem to life.
4. Sight
Visual cues are those which we find easiest to source for the classroom. Consider sights in your space that might be distracting or anachronistic and find ways to block them out. Encourage students to create their own visual representations of what they’re learning, fostering creativity and deeper engagement.
5. Touch
Pass around an item for students to feel, such as the weight of a full backpack, a piece of clothing, or a fossil. Touch is not all about the hands – don’t underestimate the importance of students feeling the ground under their feet as they move around a space, or the sensation of warm/cold, wetness, a heavy weight, or a breeze on their face.
Or Else, Do It Backwards
Sometimes, recreating sensory effects can feel like an extra burden on your lesson planning, or too much effort. In which case, research shows that cutting out one or more of our senses allows us to concentrate more on the senses available to us. Ever turned down the car stereo while searching for a parking spot, or closed your eyes when trying hard to remember something?
This can be a powerful tool in the classroom when there are many distractions, or when it’s easier to obscure senses than target them.
Close Eyes While Listening: Encourage students to close their eyes while listening to a story or an important explanation. This enhances auditory focus and helps students visualize the narrative in their minds.
Turn Out the Lights: When watching a video, turn out the lights or close the blinds to minimize visual distractions and enhance the viewing experience.
Create Silence: Mimic a deserted landscape by creating prolonged, complete silence in the classroom. This exercise can be particularly effective in lessons about space, deserts, or other isolated environments.
