In line with Denmark\u2019s national focus on innovation, entrepreneurship, and the \u201cOpen School\u201d (\u00c5ben Skole) initiative<\/strong>, Tankespirerne works at the intersection of school education and the world of work. The Open School framework, introduced as part of the 2014 school reform, mandates collaboration between schools and local organisations to help students connect academic learning with real-life contexts and future career pathways.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTo support this aim, Tankespirerne began developing interactive, scenario-based learning experiences<\/strong> using ThingLink<\/strong>, allowing students to explore realistic work environments that would otherwise be inaccessible to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBook a free consultation<\/h3> If you\u2019d like to learn more about how you can create and deliver immersive learning experiences for your students, contact our Education specialists today.<\/p>Book a free consultation<\/button><\/section>\n\n\n\nChallenge<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nMany schools struggle to give students meaningful insight into the world of work. Physical visits to companies are not always practical, and traditional classroom materials often present work life in a simplified or linear way that does not reflect real-world complexity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tankespirerne wanted to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nProvide authentic exposure to industries and workplaces<\/strong> for students aged 12\u201315<\/li>\n\n\n\nAvoid gamification, as it shifts focus toward puzzle-solving and external motivational mechanics rather than authentic problem-solving, and instead. promote initiative, exploration, and problem-solving <\/strong>in an authentic setting. <\/li>\n\n\n\nReflect how work tasks are often implicit, non-linear, and interconnected<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\nAlign with Denmark\u2019s Open School<\/strong> mandate while remaining scalable and easy for teachers to implement.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nThe challenge was to design an experience that felt realistic, immersive, and pedagogically sound without relying on explicit instructions or game mechanics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Solution<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nTankespirerne is developing a series of interactive 360\u00b0 \u201cuniverses\u201d<\/strong> using ThingLink<\/strong>, where students take on the role of employees in fictional companies. The approach places students inside a workplace scenario and asks them to navigate tasks as if they were new hires.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe second module, Nordic Denim Lab<\/strong>, is a startup simulation where students join a fictional jeans company. Aimed at 7th\u20138th grade students (ages 12\u201315)<\/strong>, the experience is designed for students to work in pairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\nKey elements of the solution include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nA 360\u00b0 environment<\/strong>, which in reality was one single office room, staged and styled to resemble a denim manufacturer\u2019s workplace<\/li>\n\n\n\nScenario-based challenges that are hinted at, rather than explicitly explained key processes<\/strong>, encouraging exploration and reasoning. Learners are required to observe, infer, explore, and connect information, <\/strong>closely mirroring professional practice.<\/li>\n\n\n\nNon-linear navigation where students must connect information across different media types. <\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\nEmbedded custom visuals created in Canva<\/strong> and original audio produced in Soundation<\/strong>, all integrated through ThingLink<\/li>\n\n\n\nRealistic problem-solving tasks, such as responding to reviews, choosing suppliers, and developing a competition for a trade fair stand.<\/li>\n\n\n\n Flexibility for teachers to add hands-on classroom activities<\/strong>, such as embroidery practice, alongside the virtual experience<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<\/video><\/figure>\n\n\n\nBenefits<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nTankespirerne\u2019s ThingLink-powered simulations offer several clear benefits for both educators and students:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For students<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\nAccess to industries and work environments they would otherwise never experience.<\/li>\n\n\n\n A concrete understanding of what a real working day looks like and what it requires.<\/li>\n\n\n\n First-hand experience of taking responsibility for meaningful tasks in a professional context.<\/li>\n\n\n\n Insight into their current strengths, limitations, and ways they can contribute as workers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n Development of initiative, collaboration, problem-solving, and confidence in relation to real job functions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n Engagement through immersive, multimodal learning that simulates authentic work rather than school-based tasks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nFor teachers and schools <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\nA scalable way to meet Open School (\u00c5ben Skole)<\/strong> or similar vocational or careers-focussed requirements without extensive logistics or resources.<\/li>\n\n\n\nFlexible virtual content that can be adapted and enriched with hands-on classroom activities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n A versatile model that can be replicated across many industries, roles, and professions at relatively low cost.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nResults<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThe first module, created in ThingLink, has already been experienced by more than 3,000 students and has received strong positive feedback from both teachers and learners. In this module, students take on the role of a recommendation algorithm, offering a more imaginative and exploratory form of work simulation that makes otherwise invisible processes visible by giving access to the \u201cbackstage\u201d of digital labour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Nordic Denim Lab module has been tested in two 7th-grade classes, where teachers, external consultants, and pupils all responded very positively. Teachers in particular expressed enthusiasm and a clear intention to reuse the module and present it to colleagues. There is also active interest in expanding the project to additional schools within the same municipality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Overall, Tankespirerne\u2019s use of ThingLink demonstrates how immersive, scenario-based learning, ranging from imaginative simulations to more concrete work scenarios, can help students explore what it means to perform work, understand their role as contributors, and gradually build understanding and confidence in relation to real working life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Extending the Model to Vocational Schools and Colleges<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nOne of the interactive images that students must explore in the experience<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe ThingLink-based 360\u00b0 simulation model developed by Tankespirerne can be extended to create direct, meaningful connections between schools and real workplaces. By developing simulations based on actual work environments, students gain access to how work is organised, experienced, and carried out in practice \u2014 even when physical access is not possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This approach is well suited for vocational education and training (VET) programmes and college-level courses, where insight into real job functions, workflows, and professional expectations is essential. As a scalable model, it also holds potential as an entry point to broader municipal initiatives that aim to strengthen collaboration between education providers and local industries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Benefits for Vocational Schools and Colleges<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nFor learners<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\nEarlier and deeper exposure to authentic workplace environments<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\nImproved career clarity and motivation<\/strong> through realistic role exploration<\/li>\n\n\n\nDevelopment of transferable skills such as initiative, collaboration, critical thinking, and self-directed learning<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\nReduced anxiety when transitioning into apprenticeships, internships, or employment<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nFor educators and institutions<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\nA scalable way to strengthen school\u2013industry links<\/strong> without depending on constant physical access to workplaces<\/li>\n\n\n\nSupport for practice-oriented pedagogy<\/strong> and competency-based learning<\/li>\n\n\n\nFlexible content that can be reused, updated, and customised for different professions and levels<\/li>\n\n\n\n Alignment with national and international goals around employability, innovation, and entrepreneurship <\/strong>(in Denmark)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nFor employers and partners<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\nBetter-prepared students entering placements or apprenticeships<\/li>\n\n\n\n Reduced onboarding time, as learners already understand basic workflows and expectations<\/li>\n\n\n\n Opportunities to showcase industries, roles, and career pathways in an engaging, accessible, but realistic way<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nBy extending this immersive ThingLink-based approach to vocational schools and colleges, institutions can offer learners meaningful, realistic preparation for working life and bridge the gap between education and employment in a way that is cost-effective, engaging, and pedagogically robust.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBook a free consultation<\/h3> If you\u2019d like to learn more about how you can create and deliver immersive learning experiences for your students, contact our Education specialists today.<\/p>Book a free consultation<\/button><\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Background Tankespirerne (translated as \u201cThought Sprouts\u201d) is a Danish educational consultancy led by Martin Kongshave, elementary school teacher and practitioner…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":12783,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[477,568],"tags":[681,209,596,229],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thinglink.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12772"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thinglink.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thinglink.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thinglink.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thinglink.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12772"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.thinglink.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12772\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12918,"href":"https:\/\/www.thinglink.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12772\/revisions\/12918"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thinglink.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12783"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thinglink.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12772"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thinglink.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12772"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thinglink.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12772"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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