IMMERSE

Making Virtual Reality a reality in Education: Why Meta #VRHeadsets are a No-Brainer #Virtualreality (#VR) is transforming the way we learn, and Meta VR headsets are at the forefront of this revolution. With the ability to transport students to new and exciting environments, VR is making education more engaging, interactive, and fun. In this article, I will explore why Meta VR headsets are the best choice for education and how they're changing the way we learn. Reach out to me at #BETTUK, or beforehand, to try our technology and learn more about #VRinEducation. 1. Headset Quality Meta VR headsets boast advanced hardware and software, providing a seamless and intuitive experience for students and teachers. Meta Quest headsets feature advanced graphics and resolution, providing a clear and detailed visual experience. Quest devices are also wireless allowing users to move around freely without being tethered to a computer, console or a battery pack. 2. Variety of Immersive Learning Experiences Meta boasts the largest application ecosystem in the market, providing educational institutions with a diverse array of learning experiences. For example, by immersing students in interactive virtual environments, Meta enables them to explore and engage with virtual objects, practise their soft skills, or travel in space or time, transforming the learning process into a delightful and engaging experience. 3. Affordability and Accessibility Despite their advanced features, Meta VR headsets are cost-effective and accessible to educational institutions. The headsets are designed to be durable and long-lasting, reducing the need for frequent replacements. 4. Safety and Hygiene Meta VR headsets prioritise safety and hygiene, featuring easy-to-clean designs and safety guidelines to ensure a secure experience for users. The headsets also come with built-in audio and microphone capabilities, allowing students to communicate effectively with their peers and instructors. 5. Ease of management  To ensure a seamless and secure virtual reality experience, Meta offers a device management platform enabling IT administrators to effortlessly control and manage VR devices within their network. At the same time,  it provides users with tailored experiences that cater to their specific needs, fostering a more effective and immersive learning environment. Meta is committed to pushing the boundaries of innovation, ensuring that educational institutions have access to the best tools for a cutting-edge learning experience. Whether you're a teacher, student, or administrator, Meta VR headsets are the perfect choice for unlocking the full potential of VR-based education.

BETTUK was 🔥 today! IMMERSE took the stage with two lightning talks and live demo sessions, sharing how VR is transforming language education into job-ready training that prepares learners for real-world success. Our booth was buzzing with excitement—over 50 scheduled demos and countless conversations with language educators and VR enthusiasts from around the globe 🌍. The energy and enthusiasm for using immersive technology to empower learners is truly inspiring! Misty Wilson, Ed.D. Christina Cavage Tricia Thrasher, PhD

BETTUK was 🔥 today! IMMERSE took the stage with two lightning talks and live demo sessions, sharing how VR is transforming language education into job-ready training that prepares learners for real-world success. Our booth was buzzing with excitement—over 50 scheduled demos and countless conversations with language educators and VR enthusiasts from around the globe 🌍. The energy and enthusiasm for using immersive technology to empower learners is truly inspiring! Misty Wilson, Ed.D. Christina Cavage Tricia Thrasher, PhD

With today's update, it got even easier to deliver job-ready language training with IMMERSE. Here’s how we’re helping you empower learners and achieve better language learning outcomes: ✅ Enhanced Reporting: New B2B Dashboard enhancements let you export data, monitor learner progress, and manage cohorts seamlessly. ✅ Advanced Lessons: Spanish Level 5 and English Level 6 lessons are now live. These advanced lessons are designed to prepare learners for real-world communication. ✅ Workplace-ready scenarios: The new Co-working Scene provides a modern, professional space for lessons, perfect for equipping learners with practical skills. ✅ Instant language support: The enhanced Language Assist Tool integrates with Geo, offering on-demand translations and context-based language help to build confidence. 🚀 With every update, IMMERSE is redefining VR training by combining innovative technology with practical tools for real-world readiness. 🚀

One of the key areas studied in VR and language learning is vocabulary acquisition. Specifically: Can encountering words in context (e.g., learning the word "spatula" while standing in a virtual kitchen) improve learning?  Or, even more, can interacting with objects in a meaningful way improve learning? A study by Fuhrman et al. (2020) suggests that it can. These researchers had 46 participants explore a VR room to learn the Finnish words for 40 everyday objects. Each participant tried to learn the words in three ways: 1️⃣ Watch only: They heard and repeated the object's name while merely watching it in context, without performing any physical action 2️⃣ Irrelevant movement: They heard and repeated the object's name while performing an irrelevant movement. These irrelevant actions were specifically designed to not include any movement that could be associated with the word meaning.  3️⃣ Manipulation movement: They heard and repeated the object's name while performing a meaningful interaction with it (e.g., putting on and taking off a hat – see image below!). The researchers conducted pre-, post-, and delayed post-tests to assess vocabulary gains across the different conditions. The main takeaway? People learned and specifically remembered vocabulary best when they physically interacted with the objects in meaningful ways. This supports the idea that learning through VR is deeper when it’s tied to actions. Several other studies have reported similar findings (referenced below). For those of us working in VR education, this reinforces the importance of building environments where learners don’t just observe a 360° scene—but they do something inside of it. Meaningful, hands-on interactions can lead to better learning and retention when compared to more traditional drill-and-kill vocabulary learning methods. Full article linked here: https://lnkd.in/geEVenb8 Other relevant articles: Legault et al. (2019): https://lnkd.in/gstZrifm  Macedonia et al. (2023): https://lnkd.in/gBYNMdw3 #virtualreality #edtech #research #languagelearning

Last Fall, Spanish students at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign supplemented their class work with IMMERSE, including AI-powered conversations, Vocab and Pronunciation practice, and 40-minute instructor led lessons -- all in VR! There were two groups, 1 who did the normal course work, and one who supplemented with IMMERSE. 🚀 The students using VR experienced 6.16% less anxiety, compared to a 1% increase for traditional learners. 🚀 Their willingness to communicate was 17.6% higher. 🚀 On oral exams, IMMERSE students scored 7.5% higher than their peers in traditional classes. What made the difference? Hands-on, interactive VR lessons and real-life conversations with diverse guides. If you're curious how VR can transform the learning at your institution, shoot us a DM!

Q4 brought a ton of highlights for the IMMERSE Research team!

Coming into 2025 full steam ahead 🔥

IMMERSE’s AI Avatars are your personalized AI tutors. They speak Spanish, English, and French, and they’re set to your proficiency level so you can use them to practice the skills you’re currently working on. All about AI-Powered Practice ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gBFQEytM

📢 NEW RESEARCH ALERT! 📢 A recent study with research partners from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of North Texas, UC Santa Barbara, Meta, and IMMERSE reveals how VR and AI are transforming language learning for students! 🚀 Here’s what the data tells us: 💬 92% of students felt less nervous speaking with AI-powered avatars compared to classroom activities. 🧠 70% said VR helped them stay fully focused by reducing distractions. 📚 61% learned new phrases and sentences while chatting with AI bots. Full study ➡️ https://lnkd.in/grDfVFAM