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

A special issue of Education Sciences (ISSN 2227-7102). This special issue belongs to the section "Technology Enhanced Education".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 December 2024 | Viewed by 1620

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Learning and Teaching Futures, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, QLD 4350, Australia
Interests: virtual worlds; emerging technologies; new pedagogies; immersive learning

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Learning and Teaching Futures, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, QLD 4350, Australia
Interests: online global collaboration; online learning; HyFlex learning modes; digital pedagogies; educational technology

Special Issue Information

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

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Keywords

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

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

26 pages, 4870 KiB  
Article
Using Mixed Reality in the Educational Practice: An Inquiry-Based Process of the Fluid Expansion–Contraction Phenomena by Pre-Service Teachers
by Nikolaos Mitrakas, Charilaos Tsihouridis and Denis Vavougios
Educ. Sci. 2024, 14(7), 754; https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci14070754 - 10 Jul 2024
Viewed by 992
Abstract
Students often find it difficult to understand phenomena of everyday life that occur in the natural world, such as the phenomenon of expansion and contraction of liquids, in which there are many misinterpretations. To address this difficulty, this paper suggests another perspective on [...] Read more.
Students often find it difficult to understand phenomena of everyday life that occur in the natural world, such as the phenomenon of expansion and contraction of liquids, in which there are many misinterpretations. To address this difficulty, this paper suggests another perspective on the didactic approach based on Mixed Reality, the attunement of the two worlds, the virtual and the real, and examines its effectiveness in teaching the phenomenon of fluid expansion. The main pillar of the educational process is teachers and the practices they use in the teaching process. For this reason, the sample of this survey consisted of 54 University students and prospective elementary education teachers. The mixed research approach was followed to collect the data. Through a Mixed Reality environment, using HoloLens 2, students followed a well-structured scenario and worksheets and observations to investigate the phenomenon of expansion/contraction of different fluids. The results demonstrate that through the interaction and direct feedback of the Mixed Reality environment, students gained a deeper understanding of the phenomenon. At the same time, the device was characterized as a particularly useful educational tool that should be accessible to all students for a better familiarization with complex scientific data. Full article
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