Title: A systematic review of the use of immersive technologies in young children's education

Authors: Rıdvan Ata; Kasım Yıldırım

Addresses: Computer Education and Instructional Technologies, Elementary School Classroom Teaching, School of Education, Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University, Muğla, Türkiye ' Computer Education and Instructional Technologies, Elementary School Classroom Teaching, School of Education, Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University, Muğla, Türkiye

Abstract: Few studies have been conducted on the current state of immersive technologies in early childhood education despite the increase in scholarly attention paid to them. This paper identifies the focus and tendencies in the usage of immersive technologies, research contexts, sample sizes, methodological designs, immersive types, interventions, and benefits of such technologies in early childhood education. The results indicate that current focuses and topics are reading concentration and interest, story comprehension, understanding of visual shapes, motivation, interaction, attitude, attention, spatial skills, and cognitive attainment. In addition, the research designs and techniques included quantitative research methods and data were collected through pretests-posttests, performance, and recall tests. Besides, most research contexts are classroom settings and the most used immersion type is augmented reality while virtual reality is used at the rate of one in third less. Lastly, interventions are AR apps, picture books, games, VR environments, VR analogies, and manipulatives while benefits are mostly positive cognitive, affective, and behavioural outcomes.

Keywords: immersive technology; augmented reality; virtual reality; early childhood; systematic review.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLT.2025.146792

International Journal of Learning Technology, 2025 Vol.20 No.2, pp.238 - 261

Received: 19 Jul 2023
Accepted: 29 Nov 2023
Published online: 18 Jun 2025 *

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