The Role of Immersive Media in Online Education

Abstract An increasing number of educators are integrating immersive media into core course offerings. Virtual worlds, serious games, simulations, and augmented reality are enabling students and instructors to connect with content and with one another in novel ways. As a result, many are investigating the new affordances these media provide and the impact each is having on important pedagogical constructs such as presence, immediacy, and immersion. New models for designing, delivering, and facilitating instruction are emerging, many with a particular eye toward supporting adult and continuing learners in the 21st century.