A REVOLUTIONARY immersive classroom is transforming the way students experience education – not only by bringing subjects to life, but by placing health, wellbeing and accessibility at the heart of learning.
Coleg Cambria has unveiled the state-of-the-art 360-degree facility at its Deeside campus, marking a major milestone in its commitment to digital innovation, inclusion and student support.
Designed with accessibility at its core, the immersive suite is already proving particularly impactful for learners with Additional Learning Needs (ALN), neurodiverse students and staff.
The space offers adaptable sensory settings and the ability to create calming, peaceful scenarios – from the quiet countryside to a trip to the seaside – supporting emotional regulation, improved focus and overall wellbeing alongside academic development.
Lizzie Stevens, Director of Inclusion and Progress, said: “As part of our five-year strategic vision, we are driving digital innovation across the college.
“This facility is a huge USP for us and truly sets us apart in further education. It gives learners the opportunity to step into realistic environments, develop practical skills safely, and even take ownership by helping us shape and create future scenarios.
“The space has been funded through ALN capital funding and is being used to support learners with additional learning needs. We need to embrace new and emerging technologies to remove barriers that our learners face.
“The inclusive space provides a sensory experience that can deliver meaningful and purposeful learner experiences.”
Beyond its wellbeing benefits, the cutting-edge space allows learners and lecturers to generate realistic scenarios at the touch of a button, from hospital wards and crime scenes to live Esports arenas and interactive gaming platforms.
Unlike many immersive suites, the classroom features four fully projected walls as well as an interactive floor, creating a seamless 360-degree experience that completely surrounds learners.
The technology can access thousands of existing environments or enable staff and students to create their own, tailoring scenarios to specific subjects and skills.
Sean Regan, Curriculum Director for Technical Studies at Deeside, said the facility reflects a shift away from one-size-fits-all teaching.
“This immersive classroom is about bringing learning to life,” he said.
“Not every student thrives sitting at a desk listening to a lecturer, and that’s not what we are about. We are committed to creating interactive, engaging and accessible experiences that work for all students, including those who are neurodiverse.”
The immersive suite is already being used extensively by the college’s Wellbeing team, who have taken an innovative approach to its application. They are delivering interactive relaxation sessions, wellbeing activities and guided sensory experiences that help learners build resilience, manage anxiety and feel more confident in their studies.
Departments including Creative Media, Health and Social Care, IT, Digital Technology, Sports, Childcare and Esports are also using the facility. Plans are in place to extend its use further and develop dedicated programmes that maximise its potential across the college.
Andy Mackie, Infrastructure Manager, said the system goes far beyond visual projection.
“We can incorporate sound and even smells to deepen the realism of each scenario,” he said.
“We have thousands of scenes at our disposal, and we can also create our own, tailored to different subjects and learning outcomes.
“All of this can be controlled from a tablet. Whether it’s a simulated hospital ward for Health and Social Care students, a crime scene for forensic learners, or a fully immersive environment for game design, we can build an entire world around our students and teach a wide range of skills in a safe, controlled way.”
Esports students have been among the first to embrace the new technology, using it for game design workshops, exploring ethical issues in competitive gaming, and preparing for major competitions by recreating the atmosphere of a live arena.
Esports lecturer Lauren Crofts said the impact has been immediate: “It’s been fantastic for our learners. We’ve been able to replicate the feeling of being in a live arena, which is invaluable preparation for our annual competitions. We can simulate ‘shoutcasting’ environments and create highly interactive sessions around game design and ethics.
“The immersive element makes learning more collaborative, more practical and much more engaging.”
Level 3 Esports learner Christopher Moran, from Pentre Halkyn, said the experience has changed the way he approaches his studies.
“It’s so different, it allows you to work together more and collaborate rather than learning alone,” he said.
“It’s a great way to learn and really interesting and engaging – unlike anything I’ve seen.”
