Objectives: Immersive virtual reality (IVR) provides opportunities to learn within a nonphysical, digital world. The purpose of this critical review was to examine published systematic reviews regarding the benefits and challenges of IVR in higher education to inform best practices. Method: We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Overviews…

This paper addresses the existing gap in the literature on Metaverse applications in education by providing a comprehensive analysis of associated paradigms, platforms, hardware, and software, which have not been systematically reviewed yet. Notably, this study is among the first, to the best of our knowledge, to introduce the pioneering concept…

Mixed-reality simulation is a technology-based tool used to augment preservice teacher education in special education; as such, researchers have conducted several studies to assess mixed-reality simulation for its effectiveness and efficacy. Though these researchers have concluded that mixed-reality simulation can be an effective tool, there is…

Early researchers suggested that virtual humans (animated pedagogical agents) required a persona if they were to be anthropomorphized by the user. Over the past two decades, research has focused on design features that target the perception of persona in order to increase the anthropomorphization of the agent toward the end of increased learning…

As part of a recent change, Augmented Reality (AR) has filled engineering classrooms, being employed for various pedagogical purposes around the world. However, little is known about the different features and uses of this technology in Latin America. This Scoping Review asks how are educational AR systems designed, used and evaluated in the…

With the rapid development of virtual technologies, there is a growing body of literature investigating the impact of virtual technologies on students' spatial ability. However, it remains unclear whether virtual technologies can effectively improve students' spatial ability. Therefore, this meta-analysis was conducted to synthesize the findings…

Several decades of research in simulation and gamification in higher education shows that simulations are highly effective in improving a range of outcomes for students including declarative knowledge and interest in the topic being taught. While there appears to be a broad array of options to provide education in an undergraduate setting related…

The aim of this study, via a systematic review, was to investigate the addition of narratives in immersive virtual reality (IVR) and the associated impacts on learning. Narratives in IVR put the learner in the story, which, until recent developments in IVR head-mounted display technology, was out of reach in most classrooms. The review found that…

Background: Augmented reality (AR) emerges as a technology with considerable promise and substantial potential for pedagogical integration within language education contexts. However, there remains a scarcity of review studies exploring the best practices and principles for oral communication facilitation based on robust theoretical models or…

The purpose of this systematic review of literature was to synthesize research on interventions that used augmented reality (AR) to teach academic skills to students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Eight studies published between 2007 and 2020 were included in the synthesis. These studies…

This systematic review examines the pedagogical gap of how VFTs are adopted and integrated in K-12 classroom teaching and learning. Specifically, it focuses on the grade levels and subject areas, learning outcomes and pedagogical activities involved VFTs at elementary and secondary levels. The results of this review show the current usage of VFTs…

This paper presents the findings from a research project to analyse 30 years of the "Research in Learning Technology" journal (1993 to 2022). The analysis explores the content of the articles in terms of key topics and their relationship with sector events and policies, discussing key terms such as virtual learning environment, massive…

Numerous studies have delved into the application of augmented reality (AR) in chemistry education, focusing on specific topics, equipment requirements, and advantages. However, there remains a notable dearth of research examining the evolutionary characteristics of AR in this context. This study, employing bibliometric analysis on 66 articles…

As extended reality (XR) technologies become more prevalent in postsecondary learning environments around the world, this study offers a scoping review of published research on the topic. By leveraging a theoretical framework to examine data across the various domains comprising extended reality (i.e., augmented, mixed, and virtual reality), this…

This study conceptualized Technology-Enhanced Distance Laboratory (TEDL) as a subset of Non-Traditional Laboratory (NTL) to best describe global STEM education practices after the COVID-19 pandemic. We systematically gathered and examined 141 empirical TEDL studies reported from March 2020 to August 2022. Most studies were contextually rooted in…