Shaping the Future of Education at ASU

ASU Students Transform Learning Through Dreamscape Learn’s Immersive Technology

Students at Arizona State University drive educational transformation through their innovative approach to immersive learning.

Biology students experience a lab environment that exists in a virtual alien habitat filled with diverse wildlife and intricate ecosystems instead of a traditional university setting.

Through its Dreamscape Learn program at Arizona State University, science combines with storytelling to provide students with an exclusive educational journey. The virtual environment of the Alien Zoo at ASU allows students to use VR headsets to explore the interplanetary habitat for learning biology fundamentals by interacting with virtual species.

Dreamscape Learn presents scientific principles by converting complex abstract ideas into practical interactive experiences. Students experience scientific theory testing by zooming into microscopic cells and studying fictional alien species while interacting with their environmental settings instead of reading textbook diagrams.

ASU student Raelyn Valconesi explains that her best learning style involves visualizing what she studies in her psychology degree. “Here, I’m not just reading about cells—I’m inside one.”

Student Leaders Behind the Scenes

The dedicated student workforce maintains operational control of this immersive world through their duties as VR pod operators and peer mentors. The students who lead participants through simulations perform technical support while answering questions to develop their leadership competencies through direct, real-time assistance.

Junior Raymond Chavez uses his organizational leadership studies to explain the professional growth he has achieved from his role. “The experience of assuming leadership duties made me feel very uncomfortable at first. My time in this cutting-edge field has taught me effective communication skills together with problem-solving abilities and team leadership techniques.”

A Collaboration of Innovation

The partnership between EdPlus and the Enterprise Technology divisions of Arizona State University resulted in the creation of Dreamscape Learn. EdPlus creates educational content through its curriculum and instructional design department, while Enterprise Technology manages both student workforce administration and technical systems operations. The collaboration enables more than 5,000 students per week to experience modern educational approaches through both online and in-person formats.

The immersive learning experiences at Dreamscape Learn have attracted observers from outside the student community. The education transformation center at Dreamscape Learn welcomes visitors who include NFL athletes, academic leaders, and world-famous scientist Jane Goodall.

Building Real-World Skills

The Dreamscape Learn experience provides students with benefits extending beyond academic credit points. The experience equips students with essential competencies which include communication abilities together with teamwork skills, and analytical thinking, to make them highly attractive to today's employers. According to senior director Allison Hall from the Learning Experience team, this program teaches students how to lead while working with others and drive innovative solutions.

Associate Dean John VandenBrooks shares the same vision: “We teach biology and provide students with the essential skills to achieve their desired future goals.”

Designed by Entertainment Legends

Dreamscape Learn launched its operations in 2020 through a partnership between Dreamscape Immersive and its co-founders, Walter Parkes who comes from Hollywood executive background and director Steven Spielberg. The Alien Zoo experience they developed integrates scientific accuracy with visual appeal through its complete sound design and animal behavior implementation.

The founder, Walter Parkes, stated during his interview that immersive technology has the potential to revolutionize education. According to Walter Parkes, Dreamscape Learn serves as an essential part of educational transformation.

What’s Next?

ASU plans to expand its immersive learning model across different subjects, including chemistry together with sustainability and climate science. New student-created stories could enter the educational modules to merge storytelling and STEM knowledge into unified learning experiences.

EdPlus representative Lisa Flesher emphasizes that the educational tools we provide allow students to access their studies at microscopic scales and simulate global changes like never before.

The classroom at ASU is transforming into an extraordinary new form beyond traditional educational spaces.