Online education has expanded access across higher education, but access alone does not create engagement. Too often, online programs rely on static tools that struggle to replicate presence, community, and context.
Northeastern Seminary at Roberts Wesleyan University is taking a different approach. With support from a $1 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc., the seminary is expanding and reimagining its online theological education programs with a focus on experience, not just delivery.
CampusXR is proud to collaborate with Northeastern Seminary and its Leadership Center on this initiative, contributing immersive learning technology that supports meaningful engagement through 360° environments and interactive online spaces.
The Problem With Traditional Online Learning
Recorded lectures, PDFs, and discussion boards have made learning more flexible, but they often feel disconnected. Students log in, complete tasks, and log out, without feeling part of a shared learning experience.
For disciplines built around dialogue, reflection, and lived context, that gap matters. The challenge is not adding more content. The challenge is creating environments where learning feels active, relational, and grounded.
That is where immersive learning comes in.
Why Immersive Learning Works
Immersive tools do more than display information. They place learners inside it.
360° environments and interactive digital spaces allow students to explore rather than observe. They support presence instead of passivity. They create moments of discovery that feel closer to in-person learning, even when accessed remotely.
Across projects, immersive learning consistently supports deeper engagement, stronger emotional connection, broader accessibility for remote and nontraditional learners, and digital experiences that can evolve over time without being rebuilt.
Immersion closes the gap between online convenience and meaningful learning.
Year One: Building the Foundation
The first year of this initiative is focused entirely on foundational technology development. Rather than launching finished products immediately, Year One centers on building scalable, reusable tools that can support future pilots and long-term growth.
Interactive 360° Historical Walkthrough Tool
One core component is an Interactive 360° Historical Walkthrough Tool designed for faculty-led virtual experiences. The tool supports guided exploration through real spaces with features such as custom UI and UX, pop-up story overlays, green screen video integration, and WebXR and VR compatibility.
This allows instructors to lead students through contextual, narrative-driven experiences that feel intentional and interactive, rather than passive or self-guided.
Interactive 3D Collaborative Learning Spaces
Year One also includes the creation of six high-fidelity 3D collaborative environments, including spaces such as a chapel, classroom, and prayer circle. These environments support shared learning through avatars, spatial audio, and real-time interaction, accessible through both browsers and VR.
The goal is to create digital spaces where students can gather, reflect, and engage together, not just consume content alone.
No training or platform deployment takes place during Year One. This phase is dedicated fully to building the underlying tools so they are flexible, durable, and ready to scale in future years.
Expanding Access Without Losing Depth
A central goal of this project is to expand access while maintaining the depth and quality of theological education. Immersive technology supports that balance by making learning more experiential without requiring physical presence.
Because these environments are digital, they can be updated over time. Content can change, stories can expand, and programs can evolve without reworking the entire system. That longevity is critical for sustainable online education.
Looking Forward
Higher education is shifting toward models that prioritize flexibility and connection at the same time. Immersive learning offers a way to meet both needs, creating online experiences that feel intentional, human, and participatory.
CampusXR is proud to support Northeastern Seminary and the Leadership Center on this forward-looking initiative and is grateful to partner on work that continues to push online education forward.
The future of learning is not just online. It is experiential.