CINDER blocks to weather the storm: A foundational framework for immersive narrative production in higher education and a meteorology case study

Immersive learning experiences are on the rise, but they do not appear out of thin air. Production can be costly in both time and money, and every project requires experts from diverse backgrounds to work together in pursuit of the new. Immersive narratives have the potential to elevate the game by engaging students from technical, psychological, and pedagogical standpoints. However, meeting all the needs of an educational narrative requires dedicated leadership and thoughtful leveraging of resources. Previous research identifies the crucial teaming of a content expert, an instructional designer, a narrative lead, and a development lead. Using a recently developed Introduction to Meteorology lab as a case study and proof of concept, we now present those roles within the CINDER block foundational framework: C ontent, I nstruction, N arrative, D evelopment, and E ducational R esourcing. Our framework includes new building blocks, a new guiding worksheet, and a workflow updated from our previous short paper. We explain step-by-step, based on theory and evidence from the meteorology lab, how higher-order learning activities and alignment with learning objectives can be a guiding force for the team throughout the narrative production process. We also share student feedback on the end product as an educational tool, including three rounds of testing and one round of full implementation as a course lab. Our framework is designed to be replicable, scalable, and flexible for those both new to and experienced in the production process. We believe it is not only possible, but necessary, to work together as a team to achieve success in the interdisciplinary field of immersive learning. • Interdisciplinary collaboration is paramount to successful immersive narrative production. • The CINDER block framework presents critical perspectives using building blocks to guide team members and project managers through the process. • A narrative workflow improves clarity and efficiency among leadership. • A guiding worksheet provides prompts to consider during production. • Hurricane Heroes serves as a case study with Introduction to Meteorology students; course implementation increased students’ self-efficacy, achievement, and enjoyment.