PHOENIX – ASU Preparation Pilgrim Rest announced a new partnership with Learn the dream landscapemaking it the first elementary school in the country to offer students a dynamic new learning experience that combines the power of experiential pedagogy, cinematic engagement and advanced virtual reality (VR) technology.
Using the Dreamscape Learn Platform, ASU Prep Pilgrim Rest teachers and students in grades 3-6 can attend classes in any virtual location imaginable relevant to their subject, generating unprecedented student enthusiasm and engagement in subjects including STEM, social studies, and language arts. That could mean exploring ancient Egypt from inside King Tut's tomb or studying the ocean from the perspective of an oceanographer 30 meters below the surface.
“We are deeply grateful to bring this level of technology to the Pilgrim Rest community,” said Richard Yarbough, president of the Pilgrim Rest Foundation, Inc., a philanthropic arm of Pilgrim Rest Church, where the school is located. “Dreamscape's immersive classroom gives students access to knowledge and experiences they wouldn't otherwise encounter, whether it's a trip to a world-class art museum or a tour of the surface of the moon.”
In the years since the pandemic, American schools have seen an unprecedented increase in student absenteeism across the country. More than a quarter of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 school year, a significant increase from the pre-pandemic figure of 15. Researchers cite students' lack of engagement in school as one of the key contributing factors to chronic absenteeism, which makes learning recovery challenging.
“We see a tremendous opportunity in this technology to spark enthusiasm, curiosity and perseverance in our students. When lessons jump off the page and into the real world, children not only engage more deeply with their schoolwork, but they also see the value and relevance of their education in their everyday lives,” said Marissa Schneckloth, principal. “ASU Prep Pilgrim Rest was founded with the goal of creating educational opportunities for underserved students, and thanks to Dreamscape, they can experience the power and joy of learning in a whole new way.”
Dreamscape Learn, a collaboration between Arizona State University (ASU) and DreamWorks Motion Pictures co-founder and award-winning writer Walter Parkes, offers virtual reality-enabled courseware and a teaching platform that allows educators to deliver classes from vivid locations. represented that are impossible to visit. in person.
The installation of the Dreamscape Learn Pod at ASU Prep Pilgrim Rest is the result of a long-standing relationship between ASU Prep and the Pilgrim Rest Foundation, Inc., which was supported by partners including the Arizona Diamondbacks, Arizona Public Service (APS) , Phoenix IDA and Salt River Project (SRP) to help fund the school project.
Dreamscape Learn is designed to integrate seamlessly into existing lessons. Educators can take students to explore ancient civilizations, distant planets, microscopic organisms, and underwater ecosystems, all from within the walls of their school. Research at ASU, where a similar facility is already successfully serving college-level students, has confirmed that students performed better in courses that integrated this new approach to teaching and learning.
“We want to allow students to become explorers and scientists. Our technology can turn schools into hubs where students travel directly to the middle of the subject they are learning,” said Josh Reibel, CEO of Dreamscape Learn. “We know from the learning sciences that students learn best when we employ a variety of pedagogical modalities. Students learn from text, from lecture, from visual and audio media, from practical experience, and from others; The fundamental piece is to create a curriculum in which students both learning by doing and learn to do.”
Dreamscape Learn will be implemented into the Pilgrim Rest curriculum beginning this spring and will continue to evolve throughout summer school and throughout the 2024-25 school year, as Pilgrim Rest expands from its current PreK-6 enrollment. to also cover seventh and eighth grade students. . Families interested in enrolling can get more information online at asuprep.asu.edu or by calling 844-692-3372.
About Dreamscape Learn
Dreamscape Learn is a collaborative venture between Dreamscape Immersive and Arizona State University, fusing the most advanced pedagogy with the best emotional storytelling in the entertainment industry. Dreamscape Learn redefines how we teach and learn in the 21st century, while aiming to eliminate student learning gaps. Get more information at DreamscapeLearn.com
About ASU Prep Pilgrim Break
ASU Prep Pilgrim Rest, located on the Pilgrim Rest Church campus, offers families in Phoenix's Eastlake community a new option for students in preschool through sixth grade. With a focus on community integration and innovation, ASU Prep Pilgrim Rest offers a STEM and arts-focused program designed specifically to serve students of color. With the support of Arizona State University, it is creating new pathways to college, making higher education a reality for students of all backgrounds. For more information visit asuprep.asu.edu.
!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)
{if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?
n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};
if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version=’2.0′;
n.queue=();t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;
t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)(0);
s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window, document,’script’,
‘https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js’);
fbq(‘init’, ‘6079750752134785’);
fbq(‘track’, ‘PageView’);
