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The product

The CAVE is an open-fronted, custom cube-shaped design, allowing for teaching to be conducted as though in a traditional classroom, whilst also giving all the benefits of immersive learning.

The science of learning was a driving force in choosing the space. Whilst the college does use VR headsets in other learning areas, the CAVE offers a much more collaborative approach to learning when compared to the isolation of a headset, allowing the college to provide collaborative and experiential learning in one package.

This shared approach is key to the ethos of the room. The design of the space is such that content can be displayed to larger groups in the room, whilst simultaneously being easily accessible for those wishing to enter for a fully immersive experience.

And, in keeping with the centre’s commitment to technology, the CAVE is resplendent with floor projection, 3D, and motion-tracking for a seamless, intuitive user experience.

This is married with an ever-expanding content bank, with much of the content used created in-house via Igloo Core Engine’s built-in integrations with the Unity and Unreal game engines. The college also uses Igloo Webviewer to take advantage of web-based tools such as YouTube 360° and Google Street View.

 

 

 

“The student reaction is excellent. You can visibly see it on the students, their head comes up, they get bigger as they walk into the experience. It's been designed to be like that and to be something different to engage them within their student experience. It's new to them and it's really exciting.”

Karen Anderton

Head of Teaching and Learning Academy

The result

The CAVE system has quickly become deeply embedded in the college curriculum. Seen as an integral teaching and learning resource, 87% of subject areas at Wigan & Leigh are using or developing immersive content for use in the system.

So engrained has the system become in learning, that curriculum areas are being guided to identify problem areas in the curriculum, known as ‘threshold concepts’, that students find difficult to grasp or understand. These are then sent to the Teaching and Learning Academy, which then incorporates immersive technology to boost achievement and attainment rates.

Wigan & Leigh have been keen to record student reactions and learning outcomes from the space. After noticing an increase in student engagement, the college interviewed Higher Education students about their learning experiences with the system, who stated that the space granted a better perception and more complete understanding of a subject matter compared to traditional textbooks.

Central to the CAVE's success has been Igloo Core Engine. Having seen other systems and been concerned with their technical and complicated nature, the accessibility and ease-of-use that is central to Igloo Core Engine was a big drawing point for the college, recognising that with Igloo training and support, every member of staff would be able to make use of the system.

   

 

 

"There's absolutely a higher level of engagement. We interviewed the HE students about their experience with it. They were saying they had a much better perception and understanding compared to a textbook, and that it enabled them to visualise spatial awareness and parameters that they wouldn’t ever have been able to do if they didn't use an immersive experience."

Karen Anderton

Head of Teaching and Learning Academy

Going forward

Wigan & Leigh is looking to continue growing its existing content and already extensive buy-in across campuses and curriculum areas. 

Student-created content is also another area the college is looking to explore more. Though they’ve dabbled with it in the past, expanding this area with technical assessment in subject areas such as Game Design is a key goal for the organisation. 

Taking greater advantage of the integrated Unity plug-in by using VR-integrated Unity apps for more 3D environments and scenarios is another aim. The college is also exploring motion capture technology for use with Dance and Sports students. 

Additionally, Wigan & Leigh College is looking to invest in Igloo Laser Touch, our new control system for extreme-fidelity touchscreen use. Looking to provide the most intuitive experience for its users, Laser Touch will open new doors for users interacting with its content. 

Testimonials

“There are so many exciting pieces of content. Each curriculum area, everything they design is exciting because it brings that curriculum area to life. This is what the students are saying, it's not just a textbook, they're not sat in a traditional classroom. 

In terms of the Igloo and what it does for education, the Igloo is just magic. And that's what we're here to do, that is the purpose of education. We're here to ignite people with passions and see potential. The Igloo is a key tool that enables us to do that.”

Karen Anderton
Head of Teaching and Learning Academy

“The support is great. I can't recommend it any more. The documentation is incredible and very thorough. And even with tech issues that we've had, the response has been super quick, super responsive. Any issue we've had has been resolved within an hour or two.

I have lofty goals for this system, and it has not let me down yet. In fact, it's helping me on that journey, honestly, very well.”

Thomas Kay
Digital Innovation Specialist

“I reached out to Igloo Vision and it was instantly different straight away. They got education, they’ve got people from an education background, so they understood exactly what we wanted.

We'd seen other environments that was just somebody sat behind the curtain, working the magic, and nobody really knew what was going on. It wasn't going to work, it was just going to become that white elephant that nobody could really get ahead around. With Igloo Core Engine, it's really friendly. With the right training, the right support, we felt that every member of staff would be able to come in here and deliver something in any subject area.”

John Donnellan
Head of IT Services