Dreamscape Learn is a virtual reality curriculum that replaced many traditional science labs at ASU, garnering mixed emotions from students enrolled in biology courses.
DSL is a joint venture between the University and Dreamscape Immersive, meant to increase student engagement in coursework through immersion. Instead of attending an in-person lab, students individually book a VR session at their campus and solve problems in a virtual world based on their classwork.
"Instead of me sitting you down in a lecture hall and making you listen to me talk about what biologists have found out and what they think, why don't I just make you a biologist on the first day of class?" Michael Angilletta, Associate Dean for Learning Innovation at ASU EdPlus, said.
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A compendium conducted by EdPlus in Spring 2022 inspired the full switch to virtual reality labs, starting with biology courses. Students taking BIO 181 were split into two groups: the DSL group and the non-DSL group.
Annie Hale, Executive Director of ActionLab at EdPlus, said the results showed that students in the DSL group were 1.7 times more likely to earn between a 90-100% lab score than the students in the non-DSL group.
These results were consistent across all demographics, Angilletta added.
"It doesn't matter if you identify as male or female, whether you're from a low or high socioeconomic background, whether you identify as being a member of an underrepresented minority or not," Angilletta said. "It's the kind of course that you think of traditionally being a weed-out course, but now students are all succeeding."
However, Nazhly Ramirez, a freshman studying biological sciences, said she feels like DSL is a waste of time and does not want to pay the mandatory advanced technology fee.
"I'm paying $300 to basically watch YouTube once a week," Ramirez said.
READ MORE: ASU adds a new student fee for 'Advanced Technology'
Jaden Barrero, a freshman studying molecular biosciences and biotechnology, participated in the Intergalactic Wildlife Sanctuary in his BIO 182 course. He was tasked with analyzing an alien species and investigating its population and ecosystem, but felt the imaginary aliens were too "fantastical" for a biology course.
"The reason why I like biology so much is because (of) all the animals here and all the life here," Barrero said.
He said he feels the program is trying to convince STEM majors to engage in science, and might be better suited to middle school students who have not chosen a career path.
In a similar vein, Christofer Bang, a biology professor who has taught the subject on and off for over 12 years, said DSL is engaging for non-biology students.
"It actually connects students to biology that maybe wouldn't be interested in biology at all," Bang said.
John D'Souza, a freshman studying economics, had that experience taking BIO 100 to fulfill a general education requirement.
"I think because I'm not actually doing it, I'm not pursuing it as a career or as an academic interest, the immersive experience is really fascinating to me," D'Souza said. "I'm able to apply it, in a rudimentary sense, to the world around me."
VR storytelling levels the playing field for all majors, Hale said, because no one has explored this specific experience before.
"Storytelling is the most traditional way of conveying thoughts and ideas," she said. "Storytelling tied to complex problems can create great effects for students at all levels."
Angilletta said DSL is expanding further into chemistry, microeconomics, music theory, astronomy and more.
Hale said the ActionLab at EdPlus is conducting another report for Spring 2026, and DSL is continuing to show positive trends in lab scores.
D'Souza said immersive technology, especially in science education, is important for relating coursework to life, but there needs to be a balance.
"I think educators, and people who build curriculums, and people who are in charge of leading institutions in directive visions should have the value of in-person, hands-on experience in mind as we continue to develop immersive technologies," D'Souza said.
Edited by Senna James, Jack McCarthy and Ellis Preston.
Reach the reporter at sevoorhe@asu.edu and @sydneyontheair on Instagram.
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