Immersive Learning


Spring 2022 - Open Immersive Learning Projects - Find the right project for you!
Arts in the Public Sphere
ART370-2, TR 3:30pm - 6:15pm

With this immersive project, students will have the opportunity to join a team and create large-scale permanent public art in downtown Muncie - from design to fabrication. Creating work on this scale and in the public sphere requires working collaboratively and interacting with a diverse and broad range of community members, residents, engineers, landscape architects, municipal stakeholders, and fabricators.

The outcome will be a highly visible contribution to the beautification of the city as a part of the newly developed Muncie Arts and Culture Trail. The project is looking for artists, designers, architects, and those with an interest in arts in Muncie.

For more information, contact Rachel Cohn or Michael Lorsung, School of Art.

ARTS! Muncie After School
In this project, students will have the opportunity to work in Muncie Community Schools - the elementary schools - to bring arts programs to the students. In particular, theater and dance. This project will be perfect for theater and dance majors, elementary education majors, or anyone who enjoys teaching or working with students. The class is THEA 434-9 and is set to meet TR 3:00-4:40pm.

For more information contact Melanie Swihart and Andy Waldron, Department of Theatre and Dance.
Computer Science for Muncie- and Surrounding- Schools
In this project, students will have the opportunity to go into Muncie Community Schools and beyond to teach computer science and computational thinking skills. You'll have a significant impact in the lives of hundreds of local students and have significant control over what is done in the course. The project teams will research, develop, curate, and deliver instructional resources and will work to advance teachers' and students' knowledge of computer science.

This course is CS 341 and is offered in 1, 2, or 3 credit hour options. Exstensive computer science knowledge is not required. The project is looking for an interdisciplanry team of students in the fields of computer science, math, education, natural sciences, computer technology, and anyone else with a related interest.

For more information, contact Dave Largent, Department of Computer Science.

Conservation Tales
ART 370 (3 cr)

Interdisciplinary teams of students work with faculty and consulting scientists to produce children’s books about wildlife conservation. The team writes and illustrates the book, contributes photos used in the book, create the graphic design, and develop promotional and learning materials. The team will travel to observe scientists in the field, including in Costa Rica in Spring 2022. This project will require a portfolio and resume to apply.

For more information, contact Dr. Tom McConnell, Department of Biology and Barbara Giorgio-Booher, School of Art.
Engaging Fort Wayne
In this project, students will have the opportunity to get involved in an interesting new redevelopment project in Fort Wayne and engage with a variety of community individuals and interests. Electric Works is poised to be a portal for Ball State involvement in Fort Wayne in new and creative innovation, collaboration, programming, and cultural change for the city. In this class, students will work to discover how Ball State can capitalize on this momentum and impact future immersive learning efforts in Fort Wayne.

Class: ID 400 (CRN# 43938) Date and time is to be determined.

Check out the Electric Works website.

For more information, contact Scott Truex, Department of Urban Planning.
Engaging the Community With Photography
In this project, students will work with residents in the Thomas Park/Avondale Neighborhood to teach photography basics and instruct on how to use the camera to document their lives. Stories will be told and students will have the opportunity to become connected to the neighborhood. This will be a NEWS 397 course.

For more information, contact Dr. Gabriel Tait, School of Journalism and Strategic Communications.
Making Community Engaged Games
CS490, Spring 2022

A multidisciplinary team of undergraduate students will form an indie studio in the Spring semester, collaborating with Minnetrista to produce an original video game. Students from all majors are welcome to apply, and we are particularly interested in recruiting students with backgrounds in art, computer science, education, english, history, and music. Ideal candidates should be in the junior or senior level within their specialization areas.

All applicants must be available for team work sessions MWF 9:00-11:00 a.m.

For more information and to apply, visit this page or contact Dr. Paul Gestwicki, Department of Computer Science.
Mapping History and Memory in and for the Whitely Community in Muncie
Whitely is a Muncie neighborhood that has often been, literally and figuratively, left off the map. In this project, students will work to produce paper and virtual story maps in conjunction with the neighborhood association to tell stories within the neighborhood. This class is perfect for not only geography students but history, anthropology, and sociology majors, along with any one interested in telling stories, working within an interdisciplinary course, and learning about mapmaking. Students involved will be able to implement a project with a real community partner. The class is GEOG 434 and meets Tuesdays 4:00 - 6:40pm.



For more information, contact Dr. Jörn Seemann, Department of Geography and Meteorology.
Philosophy Outreach Project
PHIL 400:02

CRN: 38256

MWF 3:00pm - 3:50pm

Interested in big ideas? In blowing minds? Excited about promoting critical thinking and discovery in young people? Or are you interested in website design and content creation? Like to research and problem solve? Philosophy, which encourages students to ask questions, look at familiar things in new ways, listen to one another, and examine their own beliefs and positions, is a fantastic way for high school students to learn about themselves and the world around them. It also helps them prepare for their futures in a complex, ever-changing world.

Students in this immersive-learning class, affectionately called POP:

go on site visits to high schools across the state to facilitate philosophical discussions;
run a high school philosophy club at Muncie Central;
plan and host an innovative;philosophy conference for high school students across the state to be held at Ball State; and
and create resources for high school students interested in philosophy
We are looking for a wide variety of students with interests and skills in research, problem-solving, and outreach. If you are interested in educational equality and offering new experiences to diverse groups of students, this is the class for you.

Instructor permission is required, so please contact Dr. Sarah Vitale, if you are interested.

Check us out on our website and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
Understanding and Repurposing Vacant Land
This spring, join an immersive learning class that will make a real difference in Muncie - Repurposing Abandoned Property.

Driving through Muncie have you ever noticed the vacant lots and abandoned houses and businesses? These properties represent not only one of the great challenges facing Muncie, but also big opportunities for the community moving forward. Previous classes and research from Professor West have resulted in the establishment of a landbank, a renter’s handbook, and the establishment of an eviction mediation program. This immersive class will build on those successes and strengthen the landbank’s ability to turn vacant or abandoned land into useful community amenities.

This spring, students will work with Muncie residents and community experts to:

Report stories about the impacts of vacant, publicly owned land
Analyze local data on abandonment with the goal of answering practical research questions.
Define community priorities for vacant properties
Seek community partners for achieving community re-use priorities.
Propose plan for the reuse of vacant land.
The class will meet Thursdays, 5:30pm - 8:10pm.

Undergraduates can register for PLAN 498 (CRN 41893) or for ID 400 (CRN 43898.)

Graduate students can register for PLAN 598 (CRN 41895.)

For more information, contact Dr. John West, Department of Urban Planning.