Creating sensory-rich experiences to convey qualitative research messages: using 360-degree video as part of an experiential relationship-based practice learning design

Technology-based immersive learning is an emerging field in social work training and education. This article outlines how findings from a published research project about long-term relationship-based practices in child protection were conveyed to newly qualified social workers using 360-degree videos as part of an experiential learning design. The rationale, production process and the learning design are outlined to demonstrate how learning through sensory-rich observations took place. A mixed methods evaluation from questionnaires and focus groups of the social workers experiences suggests that they felt virtually ‘present’, ‘immersed’ and able to ‘experience the emotions’ of the re-created research scenes through ‘sensory-rich observation’. This article explores how these experiences resulted in social workers taking on board the research messages and being motivated to change existing practices to enable them to work in relationship-based ways with managers, other professionals and children and families.