Immersive Learning in Higher Education: Exploring Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) to Elevate Learning Experiences

Dear Colleagues:

The intersection of education and technology has given rise to the practice and possibilities of Immersive Learning, transcending the necessity for on-campus practices. When Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) are leveraged, we can reshape the way we acquire knowledge and skills. This Special Issue seeks to explore the embedded practices and new ideas related to this dynamic field, focussing on technology to enhance immersive learning in higher education through AR and VR. This collection of manuscripts will contribute to understanding where we have come from and where we are going.

Educators often struggle to fully engage learners and translate theoretical knowledge into practical expertise. In this Special Issue we want to highlight current explorations while inviting the imagined future. The roots of immersive learning can be traced to early experiments in simulation-based training and computer-assisted instruction. As computing power and hardware affordability improved, AR and VR have emerged as powerful tools for educational enhancement. What does this look like now, and where is it leading us?

Some areas to consider include:

1. Enhanced Engagement: Immersive environments that captivate learners, fostering deeper understanding and retention of complex concepts.
2. Experiential Learning: Enabling learners to experience scenarios which are impractical or unsafe in reality, fostering hands-on, experiential learning both physical and virtual.
3. Accessibility: accommodating diverse needs and learning styles, promoting inclusivity in education. Additionally, diverse cohorts in remote and regional locations.
4. Skill Development: practical skill development across various professions, from surgery simulations in healthcare to architectural design exploration. Additionally, meeting the needs of workplace shortages.
5. Future focussed: This field offers a fertile ground for academic exploration, driving innovation in technology and pedagogy.

Dr. Lisa Jacka
Dr. Julie Lindsay
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Education Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• immersive learning
• AR
• VR
• virtual worlds
• educational technology