High School Educator Product Advisory Council Member

Montclair State U partners with Dreamscape Learn on new VR facility. * By Matt Jones * 09/04/26 Key takeaways. * Montclair State University has completed a 2,450-square-foot virtual reality learning facility in partnership with Dreamscape Learn inside its College of Communication and Media building. * The Dreamscape Learn Lab features a 26-seat classroom and free-roam pod equipped with immersive technologies including 360-degree motion capture and haptic feedback. * The facility will provide immersive educational experiences across academic disciplines while offering hands-on training in virtual reality production, design, coding, and content creation. New Jersey's Montclair State University has announced the completion of a new virtual reality learning facility developed in partnership with Dreamscape Learn. The 2,450-square-foot lab space is inside the College of Communication and Media building and will serve students pursuing careers in digital media, virtual reality, and content creation. The new Dreamscape Learn Lab features a 26-seat classroom and a free-roam pod where students can physically move through virtual environments. The technology combines 360-degree motion capture with haptic feedback, which uses physical sensations such as vibrations and movement to simulate touch. The facility is expected to serve students across academic disciplines and eventually offer programming to students of all majors, the news release reports. Students will initially have access to Dreamscape Learn's "Biology in the Alien Zoo" course, an immersive experience that places participants in a virtual ecosystem. Students work collaboratively to conduct fieldwork, gather and analyze data, and use scientific concepts to complete a series of missions. Montclair joins institutions including Arizona State University, Rowan University, and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in using Dreamscape Learn technology. The lab will also provide hands-on training for students interested in careers involving virtual reality technology and production. Students can develop skills in areas including storyboarding, design, coding, and operating virtual environments. "The Dreamscape Learn Lab will offer practical, real-world skills development in virtual reality, a critical medium for the future," said College of Communication and Media Director Keith Strudler. The project received partial funding through the New Jersey Economic Development Authority's New Jersey Film Works Grant Program, an initiative supporting growth in the state's digital media industry. Construction on the facility began in October 2025. Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

New Jersey Film Works Grant Program and partnerships with institutions of higher learning will expand access to high-quality careersThe New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) Board has approved the creation of the New Jersey Film Works Grant Program and entered into Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with Montclair State University and Brookdale Community College to expand film and digital media workforce development initiatives.The new program and partnerships will prepare New Jersey residents for family-sustaining careers in the booming film and entertainment industry, fostering and diversifying the state’s talent pipeline in a critical economic sector and bolstering different approaches to support the state’s film industry.“Under Governor Phil Murphy’s leadership, New Jersey has reclaimed its status as a leading hub for film and television production” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “Through the development of state-of-the-art film studios and the success of the Film and Digital Media Tax Credit Program, the industry remains poised for long-term growth,” he added.“The NJEDA is committed to providing New Jersey residents of all backgrounds with the skills and training they need to capitalize on the immense economic opportunities created by the film and digital media industry. As more studios and production companies utilize New Jersey’s premier incentives and diverse filming locations, they can rely to the state’s expansive talent pool to fill essential roles,” Sullivan continued.The $3 million New Jersey Film Works Grant Program will award grants of up to $750,000 to entities that provide New Jersey residents with access to workforce development training, internship, apprenticeship, and learning opportunities in film and digital media. In line with Governor Murphy’s mission to strengthen economic opportunities for every New Jerseyan, the competitive program includes a focus on providing training and career opportunities for residents of Overburdened Communities.The program is expected to award grants to about six eligible applicants, which can include, but are not limited to, nonprofit and community-based organizations, educational institutions, and labor unions. A Notice of Funding Availability will be available for interested parties in Spring 2025.In addition to the new program, the NJEDA Board entered into an MOU with Brookdale Community College to provide $1 million to the New Jersey Film Academy initiative.The partnership with Brookdale will provide students, adult learners, diverse underserved populations, and incumbent workers with education and career pathways to pursue careers in film and increase employers’ access to a skilled workforce.The curriculum is standardized and will be replicated in New Jersey’s community college system, expanding the reach of the program to other institutions. The MOU also dedicates $100,000 in funding to support tuition assistance and student scholarships for participation in the program.“This partnership with the NJEDA is a game-changer for students and professionals looking to break into the film industry,” said Dr