Prof Verona Leendertz, deputy dean for research and innovation in the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, recently presented her inaugural lecture on the Vanderbijlpark Campus.

Tilted “Igniting innovative teaching: Connecting multifaceted dimensions for immersive learning”, the lecture provided insight into the complexity of learning and the multiple aspects which influence the future of education and how technology can be used to enhance learning.

According to Prof Leendertz, immersive technologies can range from user interface, serious games, augmented reality, virtual reality and even mixed reality. However, too much focus is often placed on the technological features, and not on the impact of immersion on the learning and perceptual processes.

“Therefore, I have developed a model for innovative teaching and immersive learning for higher education, which is an expansion of the cognitive affective model for immersive learning developed by Makransky and Petersen (2020). It included additional aspects to connect the various dimensions to stimulate immersive learning through behavioural, affective, cognitive, and social cultural engagement,” she explained.

She added that her vision for the future of education is to include the use of immersive technologies to create engaging and interactive learning experiences.

“It is important to create learning experiences that are tailored to the individual needs of each student. Students have different learning preferences, and lecturers need to understand these differences and adapt their teaching methods accordingly.

“By creating immersive and engaging learning experiences that connect multifaceted dimensions, teachers can help students to develop the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the world of tomorrow,” she added.

Prof Verona Leendertz and her family.