Immersive Learning with Virtual Reality

The modern generation of learners uses a variety of digital tools in their daily lives, making the integration of immersive technologies into the educational ecosystem a natural extension of their way of thinking and communicating.
The effective integration of VR technologies in an educational context is a challenge that requires the sharing of best practices between pedagogical communities. The development of methodological guidelines and instructions for integrating VR in various disciplines is key to ensuring consistency and sustainability in its use. Such pedagogical frameworks support teachers in adapting technologies to specific learning objectives, thereby maximizing educational value.
This issue aims to provide an opportunity for academics and practitioners to share their theoretical and practical findings in the field, to propose new, innovative, and original approaches for applying VR in education, and to exchange experience in creating standardized models for VR integration as a necessary prerequisite for building effective and sustainable pedagogical practices.
This special issue focuses on theoretically grounded, evidence-based research on VR and XR in educational and training contexts. We are interested in papers that examine the mechanisms, conditions, and human factors shaping the learning experience in immersive environments. Submissions should articulate clear theoretical foundations, methodological approaches, and empirically supported practices for the design, implementation, and evaluation of VR-based learning.
We welcome research located in a variety of contexts, including formal education, non-formal learning, vocational and professional training, and lifelong learning.

Topics may include, but are not limited to:
• Learning mechanisms and outcomes: cognitive and motivational processes activated through VR.
• Learning design: pedagogical models, good practices and strategies for integrating VR to achieve learning objectives.
• Intelligent learning systems, adaptive and personalized learning in immersive environments, driven by AI.
• Methodological and practical contributions: experimental studies and research on good practices and validated frameworks for the application of VR learning environments.
• Virtual Ecosystems (Metaverse) as digital environments for interaction and knowledge creation.

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
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• ... 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
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• 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 (XR), Virtual Reality (VR) in Education, Immersive Learning Environments, Pedagogical Frameworks, Virtual Ecosystems and Communities

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.