Sustainable educational virtual reality environments: Development, integration, and pedagogical alignment

This study comprehensively addresses the sustainable integration of Virtual Reality (VR) technologies in education, as well as the development and enhancement process of the Educational Virtual Reality Campus (EVRECA) platform. The research first examines the potential benefits and technical challenges associated with the use of VR technologies in educational environments, focusing on how these technologies can be effectively integrated into educational processes. The EVRECA platform was developed based on a solid technical infrastructure and principles of sustainability, designed to support diverse educational content. In particular, the study delves into the development process of interactive VR modules that enable students to explore complex concepts in immersive virtual environments. During this process, extensive pilot testing was conducted to optimize the user experience, and improvements were made based on user feedback. The study also discusses the access challenges encountered during the broader implementation of VR technologies in education and offers solutions to these issues. Scalable solutions were developed to ensure the EVRECA platform’s accessibility to a wider audience, and the findings from this effort provide valuable insights for future educational technology projects. Ultimately, the study presents recommendations for the widespread adoption and effective integration of sustainable VR applications in educational technologies.