Pilot context
The project involved participating Year 5 learners in a supported school-learning context. Ocean Quest formed part of a facilitated activity rather than being presented as an unsupervised headset experience.
Case study · School learning
Making marine pollution tangible for Year 5 learners.
A University of Salford-linked pilot delivered between June and September 2025 explored how an interactive marine environment could support Year 5 understanding of pollution and its consequences.
The objective
Help participating Year 5 learners encounter marine pollution as an experience rather than an abstract topic.
The approach
Learners entered Ocean Quest, explored the underwater environment and encountered the effects of pollution through facilitated activity and reflection.
Measured outcome
100% of participating Year 5 learners in this pilot reported learning that pollution harms marine ecosystems. This result belongs to this specific group and evaluation context.
How to interpret the finding
The result is reported as an early, contextual learning outcome. It should not be generalised to every learner, school or delivery format. The participant count, response count, exact question wording and evaluation instrument are not published here. The percentage therefore describes reported learning within this pilot; it does not establish independently tested attainment or a causal effect of VR.
Key learning
The immersive environment was most useful as part of a broader learning journey that included briefing, support and discussion.
Plan a comparable learning activity
Start with one question: how does pollution affect marine life? Agree an age-appropriate reef exploration and rescue activity, then invite learners to explain what happened and suggest a practical action. Define the evaluation questions and reporting approach before delivery.
Start a conversation
Run a similar Ocean Quest pilot.
Tell us about your learners, organisation or project and we’ll shape the right demonstration.
Request a demonstrationOr email bassel@nsub.co.uk →