A Systematic Review of Research on the Application of Virtual Reality Technology in Primary Education

Abstract

Virtual reality technology is receiving increasing attention in education and research fields. Based on 10 high-impact journals in China and abroad, this study selected 26 empirical studies of virtual reality technology applications in primary education in the past 6 years (2018-2024), constructed a coding and analysis framework from several aspects of publication trends, research contexts, research methods, technology characteristics, advantages and challenges, and conducted a systematic literature review using content analysis. The literature focused on the application of virtual reality technology in elementary education, with a mixed-method approach combining quantitative and qualitative aspects, and a diverse trend of data collection and analysis. The findings indicate that VR technology has great potential in improving learning outcomes in various subjects such as science, mathematics, and social studies. Moreover, the application of virtual reality technology in primary education is mostly carried out in semi-immersive VR learning environments. However, the adaptability of hardware and software operation, the stability of real-time interaction, and the complexity of learning task design are new challenges for the application of this technology to primary education.