Immersive Education: Introducing Game-Based Learning

Aaron E. Walsh (2008) Immersive Education: Introducing Game-Based Learning

I’ve begun to look into the whole concept of immersive education. And have foud various differences between comparisons between immersive technology when compared to other forms of technology such as websites etc. I began to look into some blogs such as Aaron E. Walsh’s. He’s a Director of the Grid Institute, a Boston-based research and development company founded in 2005. I found some of the research interesting and informative.



“Immersive Education combines interactive 3D graphics, commercial game and simulation technology, virtual reality, voice chat, Webcams, and rich digital media. Unlike traditional computer-based learning systems, the virtual learning environment is designed to immerse and engage students in the same way that today’s best video games grab and keep the attention of players.” (www.internetevolution.com)

I think that this is a very clever concept. If you took the idea that kids spend literally hours playing computer games, whereas they are more reluctant to do any actual school work. If the work was to be made much more fun, then children would definitely be working for not only longer periods of time, but would be absorbing more information.

“This is exciting new ground for many educators, but it’s also a cause for concern among some teachers about its disruptive potential. Critics question the effectiveness of computer simulations for education, while others are worried that introducing video games as learning tools in schools will diminish education.”

In some instances, teachers feel that their jobs may be threatened. One question that is often raised is, “Will immersive education replace teachers?”, this is another interesting idea. Why would a student need any teachers when they have all the instruction inside their virtual bubble? Would this lessen the need to go to school? This in turn raises many more questions.

I found the issues raised by this author very interesting. The whole concept of immersive learning takes on a completely new meaning when it’s looked into much deeper. This is essentiality the direction technology will be moving towards in the very near future.