Redefining the English Classroom with a Lumination Learning Lab

How Immersive Learning Supports New Approaches to the English Curriculum

Extended Reality  is changing the way in which students study English language and literature. Standing for Extended Reality, XR brings together augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and mixed reality (MR) immersive technologies to engage students in the classroom.

The results are nothing short of astounding. XR learning experiences provide:

• Better levels of student engagement
• A more inclusive learning environment 
• More rewarding outcomes for teachers
• A more streamlined route towards key learning objectives

At Lumination, we are firm believers in the potential this technology represents in education. With our Lumination Learning Labs – smart classrooms that use virtual reality and augmented reality technology for experiential learning across all subjects linked to the curriculum – we are making a real difference for students, teachers, and the education communities here in Australia.

The Lumination Learning Lab — Supporting XR in Education

We have developed the Lumination Learning Lab with the aim of making XR accessible and easy to use for schools and educators right across Australia. But what are the advantages of XR in education?

Structured Lessons Through Station-Based Learning

Station-based learning helps to keep larger groups of students on task, as they cycle through different parts of the lesson plan on the way to reaching their objectives. The Lumination Learning Lab facilitates these station-based approaches. The station-based learning framework offers real advantages for students and teachers alike. Whether supporting varied, engaging, and active learning experiences, creating a collaborative learning environment or breaking complex tasks down into manageable milestones, station-based learning is redefining what’s possible in the classroom.

Accessibility for Difficult Concepts

Concepts that may once have been too difficult, too expensive, or simply too challenging to explore in the classroom are made more accessible through XR technology. Using Labs, students can explore historical sites, dissect complex concepts, or engage in virtual simulations. Students are using multiple senses and a have access to engage with a variety of processing modalities to learn and understand concepts. This approach to learning not only stimulates curiosity, promotes active learning, and increases student engagement in subject matter, but allows multiple entry points to accessing knowledge.

Increased Dynamism in the Classroom

The Lumination Learning Lab and other examples of XR technology expand the boundaries of what is possible in the classroom. Educators can deploy new tools and lesson plans to keep students engaged as they learn. Students work together on tasks, developing their communication skills and empathy levels and supporting improved social engagement for the next generation of learners.

Using the Lumination Learning Lab in English Studies

The Lumination Learning Lab technology enriches the experience for students progressing through the English curriculum. Across a number of different lesson plans, tools, and other learning experiences, AR and VR technology supports students on their way to key lesson outcomes.

Take a peek into the immersive learning adventures awaiting in a Lumination Learning Lab to enhance the educational journey for students within the English classroom.

For Pivotal Scenes in Narratives

The Tiny Town VR experience offers a unique opportunity for English classrooms to delve into the art of storytelling and narrative creation. By immersing students in a virtual environment where they can build their own miniature worlds, the game provides a hands-on approach to understanding the elements of narrative structure. Students can design and construct scenes that serve as pivotal moments in their stories, experimenting with setting, character interactions, and plot development.

This interactive platform encourages creativity and critical thinking as students explore different narrative arcs and experiment with crafting compelling scenes. Through the Tiny Town VR experience, students can improve their skills in storytelling, communication, collaboration, and imagination.

The Tiny Town VR experience offers a unique opportunity for English classrooms to delve into the art of storytelling and narrative creation.

First Nations Dreaming Stories

CoSpaces is a content creation tool that students can access on their devices. It’s easy to use platform allows students of all skill levels to present learning tasks with a great level of success. As story-telling is an important part of our First Nations Culture, this tool allows students to examine how language is used in the dreaming stories of First Nations peoples.

Furthermore, CoSpaces can be used by First Nations students in line with the 8 ways of learning pedagogical strategies. For example:

• Story sharing: students can recreate/create their own dreamtime stories.
• Non-verbal: students can respond to texts using CoSpaces by communicating their understanding. e.g. analysing and representing core themes of Hamlet on a merge cube.

Often, First Nation students struggle to access content from the standard curriculum, by using CoSpaces as a pedagogical tool allows First Nations students to access and respond to the content and therefore develop a deeper conceptual understanding of the learning.

Using CoSpaces as a pedagogical tool will allow First Nations students to access content and develop a deeper conceptual understanding of the learning.

In an English class setting, Tilt Brush is another tool that is enhancing storytelling skills while fostering a deeper connection to culture. Through its immersive capabilities, students are transported into vibrant worlds where they can visually depict narratives inspired by their cultures. As part of their ‘Connection to Sky‘ XR project, facilitated by Lumination, students at Riverbanks B-12 used Tilt Brush to guide their peers through immersive experiences that they had created.

By creating scenes and characters within the virtual environment, learners not only engage creatively but also develop a richer understanding of cultural themes and motifs. Tilt Brush facilitates a hands-on approach to storytelling, allowing students to explore the nuances of language and cultural expression in a visually compelling manner. This innovative integration of technology not only empowers students to unleash their creativity but also cultivates empathy and appreciation for the cultural tapestry that surrounds them.

Students at Riverbanks B-12 used Tilt Brush to guide their peers through immersive experiences that they had created

For Comprehension and Analysis

The VR experience Curious Alice provides an innovative approach for English classrooms to cultivate students’ comprehension and analysis skills. By immersing students in Lewis Carroll’s fantastical world of Alice in Wonderland, Curious Alice encourages them to dive deeper into the narrative through interactive encounters with iconic characters and environments.

As well as exploring themes and character motivations, students are challenged with solving riddles to enhance analytical thinking and foster problem-solving skills, encouraging students to critically engage with the lesson. By integrating Curious Alice into the curriculum, educators can offer students a dynamic platform to develop their comprehension skills while sparking their curiosity and passion for literature.

The VR experience Curious Alice provides an innovative approach for English classrooms to cultivate students’ comprehension and analysis skills.

For Communication and Instructional Language

All immersive experiences provide students with the tools to develop their communication and instructional language skills. By having students in pairs (one in a headset, one as a ‘instructor’) students must work together only verbally to give instructions and explanations due to one student having limited vision to the other. 

When navigating through any experience, for example Google Earth, body language is completely obsolete and clear verbal directions and instructions are required between the students. This is an incredible way to develop the ‘soft skills’ students require for all areas of life, especially beyond the classroom and into the workforce. Immersive technology and immersive experiences empowers them to develop essential communication abilities in an engaging and interactive manner.

For example, a lesson could include asking students to use descriptive language and phrases to describe a particular scene related to a text, another student would then use Google Earth to find a location that best suits the described scene.

Google Earth provides students with the tools to develop their communication and instructional language skills.

For Public Speaking and Communication

Virtual Presenter Pro serves as an invaluable tool in English classrooms for honing students’ public speaking abilities and confidence in presenting. Within the immersive experience, students engage in simulated speaking scenarios, choosing from various virtual venues and audiences. This immersive approach fosters open collaboration and creates a more engaging atmosphere for skill development. 

Utilizing real-time feedback from advanced speech recognition technology, students refine their clarity, pacing, and tone. The experience also allows for performance review and targeted practice, providing a supportive environment for skill development. By integrating Virtual Presenter Pro into the classroom, educators empower students to confidently master public speaking, preparing them for future academic and professional endeavors.

Virtual Presenter Pro serves as an invaluable tool in English classrooms for honing students’ public speaking abilities and confidence in presenting.

For Literature and Narrative Structure

VR experiences like Google Spotlight Stories offer exciting opportunities for English classrooms to explore literature and narrative structure in immersive ways. Google Spotlight Stories immerses students in different short stories, all with differing morals and messages. By experiencing these narratives firsthand, students can deepen their understanding of complex themes, character development, and plot dynamics in short story forms. 

One of the Google Spotlight Stories, Pearl, follows a girl and her dad as they crisscross the country chasing their dreams. It’s a story about the gifts we hand down and their power to carry love. And finding grace in the unlikeliest of places. This story won an Emmy Award in interactive storytelling and was an Oscar nominee for best animated short.

Google Spotlight Stories explores literature and narrative structure in immersive ways.

Deploy XR Learning in Your English Curriculum with the Lumination Learning Lab

Lumination Learning Labs are changing the way educators teach English right across Australia. To discover how a Lumination Learning Lab can enhance the learning experience in your classroom, book your demo today.