Rowan University has implemented the Dreamscape Virtual Reality system into the curriculum for students to interact with VR technology in their studies. 

Dreamscape VR is a virtual reality system that intends to make immersive story-telling and expand narratives for its users to enjoy. Dreamscape Immersion, the company behind the VR, was co-founded by Walter Parkes, a movie writer, and producer who created movies like “Men in Black” and “Gladiator.”

However, in the context of the classroom, it is there to have a more hands-on experience with the material in a new way. As of now, Dreamscape Learn is being used for the general elective biology courses at Rowan as a way to start the program with eight sections using the VR and be a test for students to use it. 

One of the programs that is being used in the Dreamscape Learn VR classroom is Alien Zoo. Alien Zoo, partly funded by big names in Hollywood like film director Steven Spielberg, is a simulation that involves studying the needs of made-up animal species and supplying their needs to survive in an environment. 

Dr. George Lecakes is the Director of immersive technology and learning at Rowan University and is in charge of Dreamscape Learn in the Library. 

“The important point is that it [dreamscape] is here to enhance your education while adding on to the curriculum. It was never here to replace labs or any other courses but it is here to show the scale of what is possible,” said Lecakes.

With this in mind, Dreamscape VR has also been working with danger management and architecture to expand its reach across the different majors to prepare and teach students. Not only that but it gives students more room to learn from their mistakes and how to improve instead of trial and error on resources that may be needed for other tasks.

Aside from education, Dreamscape at Rowan is considering having opportunities for it to help with upholding mental wellness and help in completing certifications and training opportunities in the future.

Another thing that Dreamscape Learn offers is job opportunities for students. All students have a chance to sign up as pod operators which helps maintain the VR classrooms and assist any issues a student may have when using the VR set. 

Gary Milshteyn is a 19-year-old sophomore who’s an electrical and computer engineering major. He is one of many pod operators who help facilitate the Dreamscape labs.

“This is not just a console but a tool that can improve the experience of learning a course,” said Milshteyn. “It raises the stakes and gives inspiration to what’s to come.”

Rowan is working to add more Dreamscape rooms, increasing the number of headsets available for all students who would have access to the VR tools at the same time.

All the data that will be collected will eventually lead to classrooms in high school and potentially even younger to having the chance to help learn in this innovative way.

With access to Dreamscape, it’s a rising opportunity that would one day be accessible to all students, and that alone is enough to keep Rowan ahead of the game in allowing students to witness a new age of education.

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