GCC Welcomes Dreamscape’s VR Innovations to Boost STEM Learning Experiences

US-based Glendale Community College (GCC) recently selected edtech firm Dreamscape Learn The aim is to establish a Virtual Reality Center to introduce students to foundational science courses through VR-based instruction.

The initiative is backed by a generous $4.5 million grant obtained by (D-Burbank), designed to support a five-year pilot program to explore the effectiveness and advantages of using virtual reality in science education, fostering creativity and immersive learning. Senator Anthony Portantino The college has announced that it will be the first community college in the nation to offer beginner science courses that embrace this innovative approach.

"Dreamscape Learn provides an integrated suite of course materials for our curriculum,\" Dr. Ryan Cornner, the Superintendent/President of GCC, shared with Metaverse Post. \"This program is already benefiting over 10,000 students at ASU through their introductory Biology course using the Alien Zoo model. We're developing future offerings in areas like Chemistry, Physics, and the Humanities.\" VR-enabled instruction.

"GCC will implement the Immersive Classroom, empowering teachers to collaboratively develop educational content using our provided software development kit (SDK). This enables us to leverage VR tools across disciplines, bound only by our creativity. The platform allows students to explore imaginative destinations and enhances their learning through meaningful engagement with the material,\" Cornner elaborated.

Furthermore, the college plans to extend these immersive learning opportunities to dual-enrollment students from nearby high schools, enabling them to participate in courses featuring Dreamscape Learn's curriculum.

According to GCC, the decision is informed by research conducted at Arizona State University (ASU). Since 2022, more than 12,000 students at ASU have engaged with Dreamscape Learn's 'Alien Zoo' curriculum in their introductory biology labs, immersing themselves as virtual field biologists.

Students who participated in these labs, where they interacted with fictional life forms and examined their behaviors and habitats, demonstrated a double likelihood of achieving an A on assignments compared to peers in traditional lab formats.

GCC's Virtual Reality Center is Set to Launch in 2024

The anticipated Virtual Reality Center is projected to open in 2024 at GCC’s Verdugo Campus, strategically situated between the college's celebrated Planetarium and an innovative new science facility covering 116,000 square feet. This trio of buildings will create an 'innovation alley' for students, providing an advanced, hands-on learning experience.

"The new science facility will house over 20 specialized laboratories, including research spaces typically available only to upper-class and graduate students,\" Cornner told Metaverse Post. \"The VR center will form a connection within our scientific quarters, showcasing our dedication to high-quality instruction and offering experiences that are unparalleled elsewhere.\"

Students at GCC will engage with Dreamscape’s immersive biology curriculum, acting as biologists tackling real-world scientific challenges within a vibrant ecosystem filled with unique creatures. The college will also utilize Dreamscape Learn's tools to craft new immersive experiences in vital academic fields such as architecture, history, and beyond.

Additionally, GCC is committed to delivering high-caliber courses crafted by Dreamscape and Arizona State University in disciplines such as Biology, Chemistry, Astronomy, and the Humanities, while simultaneously empowering faculty to create their own virtual experiences in the Immersive Classroom.

"In our center, we'll feature a fully equipped haptic VR pod allowing for immersive walk-through encounters, alongside a VR lab that can accommodate 32 students and a space for faculty motion capture,\" Cornner clarified. \"This facility will introduce students to VR technologies and STEM fields, enrich educational experiences for over 3,000 K-8 students involved in our Science Outreach Program, and create partnerships with the Glendale Unified School District to improve technology access and integrate VR into the high school curriculum.\"

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