A Virtual Reality Check: Covid-19 & the Challenges Facing Virtual Reality as an off-the-shelf Mainstream EdTech Solution

Abstract

Virtual Reality has been much researched as an education technology, particularly under the constructivist perspective of learning environments. Whilst some education institutes have already applied VR within their curriculum, or for marketing purposes, interest has calmed much around the technology. However, since the start of the global Covid-19 pandemic, many educators were faced with the need to distance educate, which sparked a new wave of interest in VR as a potential education technology solution; even to extent of classroom substitution. Whilst the advantages of VR to education have been researched, this paper seeks to address a specific research gap to assist education in the selection of VR as a suitable education technology. Based on qualitative interviews, literature research and the practitioner experience of the authors in the field of education and VR, a technology fit assessment model has been proposed to support education institutes in their VR evaluation process.