The Office of Immersive Learning is a service unit that supports immersive learning projects across campus. Ball State defines immersive learning projects as high-impact learning experiences that involve collaborative student-driven teams, guided by faculty mentors. Students earn credit for working with community partners such as businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies to address community challenges through the creation of a product that has a lasting impact.
A project is considered immersive learning if it:
- Is offered to Ball State University students for credit in a course that meets enrollment requirements of 10 students or more
- Is conducted under the guidance of a faculty mentor
- Fills a need or solves a problem for a community partner
- Results in a specific outcome or deliverable
- Is conducted by a team or teams of undergraduate students (in classes of 10 or more) working collaboratively
Immersive learning projects have been offered at Ball State University for over 20 years. In 2000, the University established the Virginia Ball Center for Creative Inquiry to promote student-driven, project-based, and partner-engaged seminars that became known as "immersive learning." By the mid-2000s, this approach began spreading to every college of the university.
In 2018, the university's strategic plan was written to include Immersive Learning as one of four High Impact Practices a student could choose to take before they graduate. This imperative reads:
"E. Every student completes at least one course that includes one of the following high-impact practices: undergraduate research; immersive learning; study abroad or study away; or a course that focuses on a societal issue or global challenge and that engages students with people across diverse disciplines, cultures, and thought."
(Excerpt is taken from “Goal 1: Undergraduate Excellence and Innovation” section of the “Destination 2040: Our Flight PlanLinks to an external site.," strategic plan document.)
Whether you are a student, faculty, or community partner, we have the resources to help you prepare for and engage in an immersive learning project that blends your interests and educational focus with societal needs. For more information, please contact the Office of Immersive Learning.
Have Questions?
Contact the Immersive Learning office so we can help at immersive@bsu.edu or use this form.