Four schools in Victoria are partnering with immersive technology company, Lumination, to build state-of-the-art smart classrooms equipped with immersive technology, transforming the way students learn.
Girton Grammar School, Lyndale Secondary College, Catholic Ladies College and St Francis Catholic College have signed on to build, or have already opened, Lumination Learning Labs.
Gaining access to virtual and augmented reality experiences linked to the curriculum, Learning Lab schools are seeing increases in student engagement, creativity, collaboration and critical thinking, Lumination said.
Catholic Ladies College principal Ms Stephanie Evans said the Learning Lab suited the student’s needs now, and in future.
“We wanted something the girls could embrace and engage in, and we know it has merit with the curriculum we’re offering,” she said.
“We want them to be future-proofed — but not just future — it’s about the present and making sure they’ve got skills in collaboration, design thinking and creativity.”
Girton Grammar School was the first school in the state to open its Learning Lab in July, its students reportedly ‘raving’ about using virtual reality to walk through an Egyptian tomb, navigate Rome, delve inside a human cell and dissect a frog.
Girton Grammar School principal Dr Emma O’Rielly said she finds it almost impossible to be passive in the Lab learning space.
“In a traditional classroom, it is possible to be passive and disengage from what’s going on. When you are fully immersed in the experience, you are actively engaged,” she said.
Lumination’s new office in Melbourne, equipped with a Lumination Learning Lab, will allow schools the opportunity to experience the space first-hand.
“The traditional classroom hasn’t changed for hundreds of years, while the needs of teachers and students have evolved significantly,” Lumination’s CEO Edward Carlson said.
“Introducing immersive technology into schools is vital, but we also want it to give teachers time back, not further burden them,” he said.
“This is why our educational experts work closely with our Lab schools to onboard and support staff, and our LeadMe software makes the Lab easy to use.”
Lumination’s bespoke LeadMe software, which powers the Lab, allows educators to use the Lab at the touch of a button.
“The LeadMe app that goes with the technology is very intuitive and that’s great for anyone who feels they’re not technologically inclined,” O’Rielly said.
With office locations in Adelaide, Sydney and now Melbourne, the company continues to expand, and has over 30 Lumination Learning Labs open or in progress across the country.
To learn more about Lumination Learning Labs, visit lumination.com.au/products/lumination-learning-labs.
