XR-Edu: Transformative Design and Development of XR for Educational Impact on Teachers and Learners

Extended Reality (XR), encompassing Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed Reality (VR/AR/MR), is revolutionizing how individuals learn, interact, and teach. XR offers unique affordances beyond traditional media, such as textbooks, tablets, or desktop computers. From K–12 classrooms to higher education and homeschooling environments, XR provides immersive, interactive, and engaging learning experiences. However, the educational impact of XR has produced mixed and, at times, controversial outcomes as well. This underscores the critical need for balanced and scientifically rigorous research that objectively examines both the benefits and limitations of XR in educational settings. In response, this Research Topic aims to bring together interdisciplinary efforts that investigate the design, development, and evaluation of XR-based approaches in education, which should include careful consideration of limitations or mixed results to avoid excessive positive bias toward Educational XR. By incorporating the dual perspectives of both educators and learners, this collection will explore how XR can influence learning outcomes, student engagement, collaboration, and instructional practices, including potential negative effects and unintended consequences.

Themes and Guiding Questions:
We welcome submissions addressing a range of topics. We are particularly interested in work that explores the following themes and questions:

Efficacy and User Experience:
o What specific features or modalities of XR enhance teaching and learning efficacy?
o How does XR influence user experience, engagement, perception, cognition, and motivation in educational settings?
o What are the potential negative effects of XR, such as cognitive overload, physical discomfort, accessibility issues, or reduced social interaction?

Collaboration and Communication:
o How do XR environments affect collaborative dynamics and communication for both in-person and remote learning?
o How does embodied interaction within XR shape individual and group performance?

System Design and Evaluation:
o How can personalized or team-customized XR environments be designed to support diverse learning needs?
o What novel methods can be developed to effectively validate and evaluate XR learning systems?
o How can scalable XR platforms be developed and deployed for broader educational use?

Educator Development:
o In what ways can XR support effective teacher training and professional development?
o How does XR impact instructional practices and measures of self-efficacy for educators?

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Registered Report
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Extended Reality, Immersive Learning Environments, Teacher and Learner Engagement, Collaborative and Personalized Learning, Evaluation of XR Educational Impact

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.