16 | LEHIGH ALUMNI BULLETIN | FROM THE NEST For students who have never been scuba diving, reading a story about a deep sea diver that includes technical terms, such as a buoyancy control device or a regulator, could be difficult to comprehend. But imagine if students could immerse themselves in the environment they were learning about without ever leaving the classroom. Celebrating its 60th anniversary, Centennial School, an Approved Private School serving students with emotional disturbance and autism, is aiding student comprehension by allowing students to experience the topics they’re learning about through its Immersive Learning Center (ILC). Affiliated with Lehigh’s College of Education, it has often been ahead of the curve in its approach, research and structure, and its ILC is no different. Walking into Centennial’s ILC, students enter a room where three walls can display video, images, or both to fully immerse and better understand a topic. Whether investigating the center of an active volcano or exploring the depths of space, educators are able to bridge comprehension gaps for students. In its fourth year of operation, the ILC has supported many projects, including “Open Doors to the Arts,” in which undergraduate students captured 360-degree digital content from several art galleries, including Lehigh University Art Galleries, to teach students how to interact with art. The school strives to be innovative in numerous areas, including behaviorally, in academic progress for students with disabilities and, as the ILC is evidence of, in technology, according to Julie Fogt, who has been director of Centennial School for the past eight years. Fogt said the school has even utilized the ILC during Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings, projecting data and student work. Research at Centennial When Lia Sandilos, associate professor of school psychology in Lehigh’s College of Education, started at the university in 2022, new faculty were invited to tour Centennial School. Centennial is a perfect partner for Sandilos, as her research focuses mainly on two areas: creating a more welcoming and supportive classroom environment, specifically through the interactions and relationships between teachers and students, and the social and emotional well-being of students and teachers. But what really fascinated Sandilos was the ILC. She said she had never seen anything like it. That’s likely because, according to Fogt, Centennial is the first school on the East Coast to use such technology. Where Immersive Learning Creates Lasting Impact Centennial School continues its forward-thinking approach as it celebrates 60 years. By Stephen Gross “OUR PARENTS WILL TELL US, ‘YOU’VE CHANGED OUR LIVES,’ BECAUSE WHEN THEIR CHILD STARTS TO DEMONSTRATE SUCCESS IN SCHOOL, EVERYTHING ELSE STARTS TO FALL IN PLACE.” —Julie Fogt, director of Centennial School SCAN TO VIEW MORE PHOTOS OF CENTENNIAL SCHOOL CHRISTA NEU
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