Introduction

This introduction presents an overview on the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book stimulates a deeper conversation about the pedagogical value of immersive virtual reality (iVR) by sharing insights into what happens when this emerging technology is taken out of the controlled conditions of a laboratory and put it into the dynamic natural setting of the school. It offers an evidence-informed narrative in the tradition of critical studies of technology in education. The book demonstrates the benefits of asking pedagogical questions through theoretical and empirical insights into how iVR can enrich student learning, curriculum offerings, and the instructional repertoire of the teacher. It seeks to highlight the complications and possibilities for using iVR in schools by exploring the intended and unintended effects of embedding the technology into actual classrooms and using methodological approach to capture how students approach learning through the wonders of ‘sandbox’ virtual environments.