Exploring the impact of an immersive method of instruction in higher education

Abstract

The imparting of knowledge in higher education relies heavily on traditional modes of learning. This paper proposes a teaching method that may be employed in higher education using an immersive pedagogical approach. The aim is to explore the impact of this method on a cohort of postgraduate students while capitalising on concepts that promote reasoning skills to create new knowledge. A qualitative design was identified to explore the impact of the proposed method. Ten postgraduate students took part in the study by means of a focus group. Thematic analysis was carried out with the aim of forwarding recommendations for further research and practice. Findings indicate that the revised module design facilitated a transformative perspective in the students through immersion by means of experiential learning. The concept of this pedagogical approach may arguably be applied across different educational levels and contexts.