The Use of Immersive Virtual Reality in Educational Practices in Higher Education: A Systematic Review

This study aims to contribute to the expansion of discussions and considerations on the use of immersive technologies in an educational context. With the advancement of information technologies, immersive technologies, especially Virtual Reality (VR), can be important allies in the digital transformation of education. The purpose of this study is to understand how immersive virtual reality contributes to student learning in higher education. The objective is to analyse how learning occurs in immersive environments, their characteristics, benefits, and limitations. A systematic literature review methodology was adopted following the PRISMA protocol. The selection process of academic publications was based on an initial set of 764 articles, resulting from a search of the EBSCO database, published between 2017 and 2022. Three stages of article selection were carried out, resulting in the selection of 39 publications for analysis. The results show that the number of publications investigating empirical experiences has increased in recent years. Virtual Reality enables the creation of immersive virtual environments in which students can actively interact and explore. These simulated environments offer students the opportunity to experience authentic situations and apply their knowledge in a practical way.