A groundbreaking immersive classroom is redefining how students experience education—bringing subjects vividly to life while placing health, wellbeing and accessibility at the centre of learning.
Coleg Cambria has unveiled a state-of-the-art 360-degree facility at its Deeside campus, marking a major step forward in its commitment to digital innovation, inclusion and student support.
Built with accessibility as a priority, the immersive suite is already making a significant difference for learners with Additional Learning Needs (ALN), neurodiverse students and staff.
The space features adaptable sensory settings and the ability to create calming environments—from tranquil countryside scenes to coastal escapes—supporting emotional regulation, sharper focus and overall wellbeing alongside academic progress.
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 impact, the cutting-edge suite enables learners and lecturers to generate lifelike scenarios instantly—from hospital wards and crime scenes to live Esports arenas and interactive gaming platforms.
Unlike typical immersive setups, the classroom features four fully projected walls alongside an interactive floor, creating a seamless 360-degree environment that completely surrounds learners.
The system provides access to thousands of pre-existing environments while also allowing staff and students to design bespoke scenarios tailored to specific subjects and skills.
Sean Regan, Curriculum Director for Technical Studies at Deeside, said the facility represents a move away from traditional, 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 widely used by the college’s Wellbeing team, delivering interactive relaxation sessions, wellbeing activities and guided sensory experiences that help learners build resilience, manage anxiety and gain confidence in their studies.
Departments including Creative Media, Health and Social Care, IT, Digital Technology, Sports, Childcare and Esports are also embracing the facility, with plans underway to expand its use further through dedicated programmes.
Andy Mackie, Infrastructure Manager, said the technology goes well beyond visuals.
“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 adopt the 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 transformed his approach to study.
“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.”
For more information, visit the Coleg Cambria website.
