Due to the rise of virtual reality and the--at least now--hypothetical construct of the Metaverse, learning processes are increasingly transferred to immersive virtual learning environments. While the literature provides few design guidelines, most papers miss an application and evaluation description of the design and development processes. As a…

This paper explores the potential of new, technology enriched teaching simulations (Simulations) to support learning. Using the principles of evidence-centered design (ECD; Mislevy et al., Measurement: Interdisciplinary Research and Perspectives. 1:3-62, 2003), we provide a roadmap for the design of: (a) simulation-based assessments (SBAs) and (b)…

Recently, there has been a growing interest in the potential of virtual reality-based teacher training (VRBTT). Despite this surge, the impact of VRBTT on teacher training outcomes remains unclear and cannot be generalized from generic VR-based training approaches. This study aimed to evaluate the overall effects of VRBTT and explore potentially…

The rapid changes in technology available for teaching and learning have led to a wide variety of potential tools that can be deployed to support a student's education experience. This article examines the learning interfaces for pedagogical virtual reality (VR) environments, including immersive VR (iVR). It also looks at how microlearning (ML)…

Background: In multimedia learning environments, pedagogical agents have emerged as an innovative tool to enhance digital instruction, yet optimising their design for maximal learning effectiveness remains underexplored. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate how specific design elements of pedagogical agents, namely appearance and voice…

Background/purpose: This study addresses the growing gap in preparing pre-service teachers for immersive digital instruction, especially within metaverse environments. While many are familiar with digital platforms as learners, they often lack practical experience in managing and teaching in virtual settings. The purpose of this study is to…

Emerging technologies are transforming education, necessitating research on their optimal integration. This article introduces an Intelligent Virtual Reality (IVR) approach that incorporates Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) through two GAI-powered pedagogical characters, aiming to address educational needs. This qualitative descriptive…

From the experiential learning perspective, this study investigates middle and high school students (n = 1009) who used an online module to learn about wildfire hazards, risks, and impacts through computational simulations of wildfire phenomena. These students were taught by 18 teachers in urban, rural, and suburban schools across the United…

Background: Despite the recognised potential of Virtual Reality (VR) in education, the role of VR in enhancing presentation skills remains uncertain. Mixed findings, coupled with low adoption rates in educational settings, highlight the need to investigate how current VR applications are designed to facilitate effective learning outcomes for…

The training of hostel service skills emphasizes the application of procedural knowledge and complex problem-solving skills, and with the development of education technology, game-based learning that mixes virtual reality (VR) and physical games has begun to be emphasized. In this study, we proposed a multi-dimensional scaffolding design framework…

Background: The role of virtual reality (VR) in education is increasing, which raises questions about VR learning in multi-user settings. While collaborative VR learning, characterised by shared goals and low division of labour, is well-researched, cooperative VR learning, which emphasises role differentiation and task interdependence, remains…

Virtual escape rooms (ERs) require learners to solve puzzles and answer riddles while trying to "escape" a digital room. Although the educational merit of such gamified learning activities continues to be realized, guides on the development of ERs are lacking, as well as student perceptions on how, if, and where they should be integrated…

This study aimed to design, develop, and validate the RSiSTEM framework, a robotics-based simulation learning model intended to foster students' problem-solving and systems thinking competencies within STEM education. The research followed a two-phase developmental design. In Phase 1, the framework was constructed through a systematic synthesis of…

This study aimed to replicate and extend Buchner and Hoffman's (2022) research on the Tell-Show-Enact-Do (TSED) approach to integrating augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) into teacher training. We conducted non-parametric Mann-Whitney U tests on the original dataset to examine the impact of age and learning design on the participants'…

The integration of design thinking with extended reality (XR) and artificial intelligence (AI) offers transformative potential for second language (L2) learning by providing immersive, interactive, and personalized experiences. Despite significant advancements in XR and AI technologies, their practical integration within formal language education…