Gyan Dhara · UX Design for XR
What if a student didn't just memorise a concept, but lived it and understood the why behind it?
What if a student didn't just memorise a concept, but lived it and understood the why behind it?
What if a student didn't just memorise a concept, but lived it and understood the why behind it?
That's what I design at Gyan Dhara (a government funded initiative): immersive, AI-powered VR experiences that turn curriculum into concepts students can utilise, not just memorise. Built for 20,000 under-resourced schools in India.
That's what I design at Gyan Dhara (a government funded initiative): immersive, AI-powered VR experiences that turn curriculum into concepts students can utilise, not just memorise. Built for 20,000 under-resourced schools in India.
8
8
VR modules built
120
120
Students · Field trial Phase I
Live
Live
In classrooms today
20,000+
20,000+
Schools at full scale
Problem Statement
How might we use virtual reality to bring hands-on, experiential learning to under-resourced government schools without smart classrooms, so students grasp the root of a concept by living it, instead of just memorising it?
How might we use virtual reality to bring hands-on, experiential learning to under-resourced government schools without smart classrooms, so students grasp the root of a concept by living it, instead of just memorising it?
My Role
I owned the learning modules end-to-end, from research and concept to UX flows, UI, and instructional design, while also shaping the platform architecture, what each space does and how students move between them.
I owned the learning modules end-to-end, from research and concept to UX flows, UI, and instructional design, while also shaping the platform architecture, what each space does and how students move between them.
Jump straight to the detailed UX case studies!
See case studies to view end-to-end: module workflows, user research, learning outcomes, information architecture, UX flows, design system, and much more.
See case studies to view end-to-end: module workflows, user research, learning outcomes, information architecture, UX flows, design system, and much more.
See the module case studies ↓
Ecosystem - Gyan Dhara Verse
One connected world,
four clear functions.
One connected world,
four clear functions.
Gyan Dhara is not a set of disconnected lessons. Students land in one persistent VR world and move between spaces to learn, explore, and gather.
Gyan Dhara is not a set of disconnected lessons. Students land in one persistent VR world and move between spaces to learn, explore, and gather.
GYAN PRANGAN
GYAN PRANGAN
The Central Hub
The Central Hub
The landing space where users start their journey and customize their experience.
The landing space where users start their journey and customize their experience.
GYAN VATIKA
GYAN VATIKA
Explore beyond Curriculum
Explore beyond Curriculum
Experiential space fostering curiosity, exploration, and learning beyond the curriculum.
Experiential space fostering curiosity, exploration, and learning beyond the curriculum.
GYAN KAKSHA
GYAN KAKSHA
Learning Modules
Learning Modules
Curriculum-based Interactive VR modules for Class 8 & 9 Science and Maths.
Curriculum-based Interactive VR modules for Class 8 & 9 Science and Maths.
GYAN VRIKSHA
GYAN VRIKSHA
Co-learning Spaces
Co-learning Spaces
Shared knowledge hub for expert lectures, discussions, and collaborative learning.
Shared knowledge hub for expert lectures, discussions, and collaborative learning.
Gyan Dhara
Gyan Dhara
GYAN PRANGAN
The Central Hub
The landing space where users start their journey and customize their experience.
GYAN VATIKA
Explore beyond Curriculum
Experiential space fostering curiosity, exploration, and learning beyond the curriculum.
GYAN KAKSHA
Learning Modules
Curriculum-based Interactive VR modules for Class 8 & 9 Science and Maths.
GYAN VRIKSHA
Co-learning Spaces
Shared knowledge hub for expert lectures, discussions, and collaborative learning.
Gyan Dhara
Research & Discovery
Built with Students & Teachers,
Not Assumptions.
Built with Students & Teachers,
Not Assumptions.
Teachers help identify where students struggle, students test every build, and field trials measure whether the learning lasts.
Teachers help identify where students struggle, students test every build, and field trials measure whether the learning lasts.
Teacher workshop
Find the learning gaps
A three-day workshop with 20+ teachers across Assam helped prioritise Class 8 and 9 topics and uncover where students struggle most.
A three-day workshop with 20+ teachers across Assam helped prioritise Class 8 and 9 topics and uncover where students struggle most.
Build & test with students
Build & test with
students
Design through feedback
Each module is tested with students at Adarsha Vidyalaya (Schools). Their reactions, difficulties and feedback directly shape the next iteration.
Each module is tested with students at Adarsha Vidyalaya (Schools). Their reactions, difficulties and feedback directly shape the next iteration.
Field trial & retention
Measure what students remember
Using 9 headsets across 3 schools, around 120 students are assessed before the experience, immediately after it and again 21 days later.
Using 9 headsets across 3 schools, around 120 students are assessed before the experience, immediately after it and again 21 days later.
Modules
Eight modules. Eight ways to make a concept click.
Eight modules. Eight ways to make a concept click.
Every module uses a different teaching mechanic — chosen so students don't just learn the concept, but see where it lives in the real world. Each links to a full case study.
Every module uses a different teaching mechanic — chosen so students don't just learn the concept, but see where it lives in the real world. Each links to a full case study.
VR Experience
Gamified learning
Perimeter
Build shapes to hit target perimeters under set constraints, and discover perimeter is simply the sum of every side, whatever the shape.
VR Experience
Immersive Learning
Area of 2D Shapes
Play a tangram-style game and discover any irregular polygon's area by splitting it into simple shapes and adding them up.
WebXR
World Building
Volume
Catch unit blocks from the pond and pack them into the tank, then count the blocks to find the volume of a cube, cuboid or cylinder.
Other Curriculum based Modules
Area of 3D Shapes
Area of Cone
Area of Sphere
Volume of Cone, Sphere & Cylinder
Light - Spherical Mirror
Light - Laws of Reflection
Light - Lens
Gyan Vatika - Non Curriculum based learning spaces
Gyan Vatika
Non Curriculum based learning spaces
Every module uses a different teaching mechanic — chosen so students don't just learn the concept, but see where it lives in the real world. Each links to a full case study.
Every module uses a different teaching mechanic — chosen so students don't just learn the concept, but see where it lives in the real world. Each links to a full case study.
Learn about Indian Monuments - Taj Mahal
Lost World Safari - Learn about Extinct animals
Learn about Indian Monuments - India Gate
Learn about Dinosaurs
Learn about Indian Monuments - Qutab Minar
Living World Safari
Gyan Mitra · The AI Companion
No student learns alone — and none is stopped by language.
No student learns alone — and none is stopped by language.
Most Gyan Dhara students come from rural government schools, where English isn't the language they think in. So the platform, including Gyan Mitra, is available in their own regional language, making learning more natural and accessible.
Most Gyan Dhara students come from rural government schools, where English isn't the language they think in. So the platform, including Gyan Mitra, is available in their own regional language, making learning more natural and accessible.
Ask out loud, just press and speak
Ask out loud, just press and speak
Typing in VR is clumsy. A universal button is always within reach, press it, speak your doubt, and Gyan Mitra answers. Voice-first, like asking a teacher beside you.
Typing in VR is clumsy. A universal button is always within reach, press it, speak your doubt, and Gyan Mitra answers. Voice-first, like asking a teacher beside you.
Not just answers, real-world application
Not just answers, real-world application
Every response comes in three parts: the explanation, an example, and where the student meets that idea in daily life. Application-based learning, not just a fix.
Every response comes in three parts: the explanation, an example, and where the student meets that idea in daily life. Application-based learning, not just a fix.
No fear of asking, however small the doubt
No fear of asking, however small the doubt
Fear of asking a "silly" question keeps students silent. With no judgement and no audience, they ask anything, big or small.
Fear of asking a "silly" question keeps students silent. With no judgement and no audience, they ask anything, big or small.
Multilingual, for every region
Multilingual, for every region
Ask in any language and Gyan Mitra replies in that same language, reaching students in every rural region of India.
Ask in any language and Gyan Mitra replies in that same language, reaching students in every rural region of India.
What I’m taking forward.
This project changed how I approach immersive learning design, from working within real classroom constraints to using AI with greater intent and measuring whether learning truly lasts.
Design for real constraints
Shared headsets, first-time VR users and limited infrastructure made clarity essential. Good design had to reduce cognitive load and make every interaction feel natural.
Clarity firstLet evidence lead
The strongest ideas changed once teachers and students interacted with them. Research was not a one-time input, but a continuous design tool across every build.
Evidence over assumptionsMeasure what lasts
Immediate reactions are useful, but retention and real-world understanding are stronger measures of whether the experience truly worked.
Evidence over excitementTaking Gyan Dhara nationwide.
The next phase expands Gyan Dhara across more schools, more curriculum areas and public institutions, while building towards meaningful access at national scale.
Launch on the Meta Quest Store
Publish Gyan Dhara for free so students, teachers and families can access the experience beyond partner schools.
Adarsha Vidyalayas
Deploy across 56 schools and use field feedback to strengthen onboarding, operations and classroom integration.
Maths and Science modules
Develop curriculum-aligned modules covering high-impact chapters across both subjects.
Showcasing Gyan Dhara across India
Bring Gyan Dhara to science centres and museums across India to reach more learners, demonstrate its potential and magnify its educational impact.
Scale access across the education system
Make immersive, curriculum-aligned learning accessible at scale, especially where labs and learning resources remain limited.
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Let's Connect
Know more about me & my work
Looking forward to contributing to the next transformational experience!
Let's Connect
Know more about me & my work
Looking forward to contributing to the next transformational experience!
I design digital, physical and phygital experiences.
© Copyright Abhishek Manraj 2026. All Rights Reserved
See more projects
VR Experience
Immersive Learning
Roving the Red Planet
A VR experience enabling players to explore Mars rovers and discover their key missions and findings.
WebXR
World Building
Godrej Metaverse: Virtual Showcase
Virtual platform unifying Godrej's 14 businesses for next-gen audience engagement.
Offline AR
Product Demonstration
AR for Godrej Aerospace Machines
An offline AR app showcasing Godrej's aerospace machining capabilities for client's visualisation.
Let's Connect
Know more about me & my work
Looking forward to contributing to the next transformational experience!
I design digital, physical and phygital experiences.
© Copyright Abhishek Manraj 2026. All Rights Reserved
I design digital, physical and phygital experiences.
© Copyright Abhishek Manraj 2026. All Rights Reserved