From Video-Conferencing to Holoportation and Haptics: How Emerging Technologies Can Enhance Presence in Online Education?

Abstract

With progressive twenty-first-century 3D virtual technologies, the ability to blur the lines between material reality and digital worlds is proliferating in K-12 classrooms across the globe.Athematic systematic reviewwas used to examine three- dimensional (3D) virtual reality (VR) in K-12 education from 2010 to 2019. Findings revealed specific features and capabilities ofcontemporary 3DVR technologies, how 3D VR technologies are being used in K-12 education, and how 3D VR supports learning experiences. In 3D virtual worlds, students are able to view peripherally through a virtual presence, experience weather, time, and different environments, and virtually touch and examine objects. The current research showed that 3D VR is commonly applied in middle and high school science classrooms and facilitates the pedagogic approach ofinquiry-based learning (IBL), a branch ofconstructivism. The reviewed studies indicated that integrating 3D VR technologies leads to enhanced learning experiences, leading to increased achievement and motivation.