Elevating students’ lives through immersive learning experiences in a safe metaverse

ACIEK Innovation, knowledge and digitalisation: building trust to face today’s challenges June 2023

Awarded Best Paper 2023

Abstract:

Metaverse platforms devoted to educational purposes are becoming increasingly popular among educators worldwide due to the benefits they offer in elevating students’ lives. This study explores how immersive platform features, blockchain features, a safe learning environment and new learning models contribute to the educational outcomes. Emerging literature on educational Metaverse platforms has been used to develop a genuine conceptual model. The model was tested using data collected from 100 educators located in different countries from worldwide. The data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), Random Forest and other different feature importance methods, fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA), thematic content analysis and Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA). The application of PLS-SEM outlines that immersive platform features and safe learning environments positively affects educational outcomes. Random Forest and feature importance methods investigate the predictive power of items included in the model, fsQCA reveals the combinations of these factors that lead to high educational outcomes, while the qualitative insights reveal the key themes emerged from educators’ perspectives on the use of Metaverse platforms. This study contributes to Metaverse literature, which is relatively understudied in the educational sector.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2023.102723

Nina Jane Patel

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