Virtual reality in education: a gift or a gimmick?

Abstract In today’s fast-paced technological era, educators are constantly searching for innovative methods for delivering engaging lessons. Virtual reality (VR), which has rapidly evolved over the past 20 years, provides 3D immersive experiences that simulate real-life situations. In this study, students and practitioners from policing and criminal justice agencies participated in training to recognize coercive and controlling behaviour, and the data analysis, supported by other published research, demonstrated that VR can play a major role in education, by providing a safe environment for exploring sensitive subjects, while enabling almost first-hand exposure to distressing situations that can build empathy with victims. The specific content of this study leads to a rich area for discussion on the delivery of related content, such as racism, homophobia, and misogyny, where the victim’s perspective is rarely seen.