A Framework for Collaborative Learning in Immersive Virtual Reality
Paul Hatch, Joseph E. Michaelis · Computer-supported collaborative learning/The Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning Conference · 2024
Collaborative learning in Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR) has the promise of becoming an essential component in learning environments by blending higher level learning activities with modern educational technologies.However, our understanding of how to implement collaborative learning in IVR is still developing.To aid researchers and designers in this area we created a framework based upon multiple theories of collaboration and interaction and tested it by conducting an initial systematic review.We reviewed 32 papers that incorporated collaborative activities into IVR activities and identified what processes and supports they implemented.We found that most implemented problem-solving, listening and discussion processes, and recreated real-world environments and objects to facilitate collaborative interactions.Importantly, our framework also helped identify meaningful gaps in collaborative learning in IVR, such as how the unique affordances of IVR are largely underutilized, and how the use of this framework may support further work in this area.