Holistic Approach to Collaborative Immersive Virtual Environments in Education: eDIVE Design Case Study

Abstract

This article provides a comprehensive framework for CIVE (Collaborative Immersive Virtual Environment) education, encompassing educational lessons and methods and the eDIVE platform, an original software solution designed for formal and non-formal education. Such a holistic and complex approach was employed to bring the actual implementation of CIVE a step forward finally. The rise of IVR (immersive virtual reality) technology, particularly head-mounted displays (HMDs), has enabled extensive use of this medium in education. However, this has led to new questions and needs concerning its practical utilization, including what software tools and functions to prioritise and how to implement this new medium in educational systems. Drawing on the results of previous research, the authors designed a new platform, teaching methods, and educational content that take advantage of CIVE, validating the solution by deploying it directly in both formal education at universities and high schools and non-formal education as part of the library system. To effectively deploy CIVE, it is essential to consider all three levels simultaneously: technological, instructional, and institutional. For example, the eDIVE platform was designed to allow collaboration in a fully immersive environment using HMDs, while also offering the possibility to participate using a conventional 2D user interface to ensure inclusivity. From an instructional design perspective, there is a need to move away from learning methods that have merit and advantages based in a real-world environment but fail to exploit the potential and strengths of the new medium fully. Conversely, it is necessary to reflect on the limits of CIVE and avoid topics and practices for which conventional RE (Real Environment) is more effective. At the institutional deployment level, appropriate forms of teaching need to be sought or existing ones adapted, such as synchronous distant learning through library networks. On the other hand, mass deployment of VR HMDs into mainstream classrooms and standard time-limited lessons has proved ill-suited. There are many creative and effective ways to use CIVE. Still, it is advisable to reflect on the limitations of the technology and instead use it primarily for topics in which its full potential will be utilised to the maximum extent possible.