A Brief History of Virtual Reality and a Review of Research On Its Use In Schools

This chapter contributes essential background information on immersive virtual reality (iVR) and education. It begins with a very brief history of VR which contextualises the current state-of-play of the technology for education. The chapter provides an outline of the main conceptual framework for understanding the learning affordances (properties) of VR. It reviews scholarly literature on using iVR for learning in schools. Research on iVR and learning in schools is nascent. More sustained scholarly attention is required to understand the unique contribution of the technology for learning, how it can be integrated into the curriculum, and the pedagogical underpinnings of effective use in the natural setting of the school classroom. The chapter concludes with a discussion about the ethics of using the technology with children and young people. There is an increasing likelihood that immersive virtual environments will be infused with artificial intelligence which will harvest data to make autonomous decisions about what and how students should learn.