As technology continues to improve and we push the limits of computer science, education must adapt. Immersive experiences have the ability to take students out of their seats and let them explore all of the wonders of our world. Through Virtual Reality, we can explore our world without having to leave the comfort of our home. There will no longer be a need for screens when we can use Augmented Reality to create an adjustable screen in our physical space. Mixed Reality will provide us with experiences that blend our virtual and augmented worlds together in ways that we could have only imagined before. Finally, Immersive and 360 Videos can provide students with incredible experiences where learning surpasses what could take place in a traditional classroom. The future of immersive experiences in education is bright, and we may one day be teaching and learning all within the “Metaverse”.
Opportunity Statement:
The immersive experiences market is currently valued at $21.7B USD and is poised to reach $134.2B USD by 2030 (Precedence Research, 2022). Immersive experiences are believed to be a game changer in the education field as the technology continues to mature and become more affordable for schools. A study conducted by Lu & Liu in 2015 indicated that primary students who studied marine environments using AR performed better than those who used traditional methods. Particularly, the students were more confident in their learning activities, they successfully learned the concepts, and low academic achievers showed improvement in their learning while using AR (Lu & Liu, 2015).
Resources (More available on our OER):
Gartner Top Ten Technology Trends 2025 – Spatial Computing
Immersive Experiences OER – Created by Katie Muzyka and Joseph Villella
Linus Tech Tips – The WAN Show Podcast – Metaverse Conference 2022 (1:03:15 – 1:17:05) – YouTube
Looking forward to the future of AR, VR, and MR – Forbes
10 Augmented Reality Experiences – Aircards
17 of the best of AR and VR games on iOS and Android – Science Focus
Best VR Videos Review – Software Testing Help
References:
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As I read this post and reflect on the many AR and VR experiences I’ve had, I can’t help but feel excited about the possibility of these technologies becoming more accessible—especially for rural and remote areas in Latin America. Imagine the impact on children who might otherwise never experience different realities or develop certain skills simply due to their geographic limitations.
The reverse is just as powerful: immersive technologies could also enrich the lives of children in urban areas who rarely engage with natural environments or diverse cultural contexts.
I also see great business potential in using these tools for corporate training, particularly for developing soft skills that traditionally require practice. But who says that practice has to happen in the physical world?
I’m currently conducting an educational research study in which I asked college students to describe their ideal AI-enhanced learning experience—to imagine and articulate what that might look like. Interestingly, the vast majority of students described an immersive learning environment as their ideal scenario. Whether it involves VR, AR or even having their favourite celebrities as virtual teachers, the common thread is clear: students crave immersive, engaging experiences that go beyond traditional learning.
This strong preference has made me genuinely excited about the future of immersive learning. I believe this area holds tremendous potential, and designing such experiences could become a meaningful and impactful direction for educational developers in the years ahead.
At my company, we implemented a micro-learning workshop on Diversity and Inclusion that utilized VR headsets to simulate different perspectives of characters in the same conversation. I was impressed by this approach since it effectively addressed sensitive topics in a contextualized manner without requiring explicit examples (for example, sharing personal anecdotes from employees about their experiences with discrimination or support in the workplace), making it suitable for self-paced and personalized learning.
However, VR and AR technologies alone provide only an environment; they require structured pedagogy and supporting technologies to create a holistic educational experience. In our training, participants were given VR headsets to engage in three conversation scenarios, but there was no subsequent follow-up or assessment checkpoints. This lack of reinforcement diminished the potential impact of the experience. To maximize the benefits of VR and AR, I believe it’s crucial to integrate assessments that guide learners from virtual experiences back to real-world applications, ensuring that the learning is meaningful and actionable.