Extended reality in learning and teaching report 2023/24

Following on from our 2019 augmented and virtual reality in learning and teaching report, we wanted to understand, in collaboration with the University of Leeds, what had changed in extended reality (XR) practice across the UK in the last half decade.

Recent technological developments in XR technologies (augmented, mixed, and virtual reality) and the growing interest in the metaverse, mean practitioners across the country are experimenting and developing new ways of using XR to engage students, explore new techniques, and use technology to transform curriculums.

This report explores experimentation, investment, and adoption of XR across the UK’s post-16 education sector, encompassing higher education and further education and skills.

It seeks to understand the perceived benefits, challenges, and varied applications of this technology across different academic disciplines.

Approach

Jisc distributed an online survey through October and November 2023 and received 157 responses. The majority were from further education institutions and based within England.

The team also interviewed 21 staff members from ten colleges and six universities to gather qualitative examples of how these technologies are being used within the sector. The results of these findings are included as anonymous vignettes throughout the report.

Findings

1. Investment in extended reality technologies within learning and teaching sectors is advancing.
2. There is strong appetite for further implementation and use of XR to improve not only the experiences of learners, but also accessibility and future job readiness for individuals across multiple fields.
3. There is significant belief in the technology’s potential to provide students with situated and experiential learning beyond, or in addition to, that available within the classroom
4. Resourcing for the technology (whether it be financial or allocation of people and time) continues to be a barrier to greater implementation.
5. There is a need for better understanding and more evidence of how XR can be used within education and its impact, especially in FE organisations.