A Systematic Review of Cooperation in Multi‐User Virtual Reality Learning Environments.

Background: The role of virtual reality (VR) in education is increasing, which raises questions about VR learning in multi‐user settings. While collaborative VR learning, characterised by shared goals and low division of labour, is well‐researched, cooperative VR learning, which emphasises role diff...

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Published in:Journal of Computer Assisted Learning Vol. 41; no. 5; pp. 1 - 23
Main Authors: Wehrmann, Frank, Zender, Raphael
Format: research systematic review tables/charts Journal Article
Published: Wiley-Blackwell Oct2025
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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        02664909
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      jtl: Journal of Computer Assisted Learning
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      dt: Oct2025
      vid: 41
      iid: 5
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      pub: Wiley-Blackwell
      place: Malden, Massachusetts
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        188234210
        188234210
        188234210
        10.1111/jcal.70112
        188234210
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        atl: A Systematic Review of Cooperation in Multi‐User Virtual Reality Learning Environments.
      aug:
        au:
          Wehrmann, Frank
          Zender, Raphael
        affil: Humboldt‐Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
      sug:
        subj:
          Virtual Reality Education
          Computer-Assisted Instruction
          Learning Methods
          Learning Environment
          Human
          Systematic Review
          ERIC Database
          Cooperative Behavior
          Interpersonal Relations
          Educational Technology
          Teaching Methods
          Vocational Education
          User-Computer Interface
          Social Participation
          Educational Measurement
          Access to Information
          Collaboration
      ab: Background: The role of virtual reality (VR) in education is increasing, which raises questions about VR learning in multi‐user settings. While collaborative VR learning, characterised by shared goals and low division of labour, is well‐researched, cooperative VR learning, which emphasises role differentiation and task interdependence, remains underexplored. This oversight is significant, as cooperation holds unique potential for education and inclusion by accommodating diverse learner abilities and perspectives. Objectives: This paper explores diverse multi‐user learning approaches in VR Learning Applications (VRLAs), emphasising cooperation over collaboration. It provides an overview of multi‐user VRLAs, their user engagement types, target groups, subjects, availability, and educational theory integration. Distinguishing between cooperative, collaborative, and social engagement, it also identifies asymmetric cooperation in multi‐user experiences. Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted using the PRISMA framework, identifying VRLAs in educational settings which feature multi‐user interactions. The review included 89 studies published since 2013, categorising VRLAs by interaction mode, symmetry, presence of a VR instructor, availability, and presence of didactic justification. Results and Conclusions: Collaborative VR remains the dominant mode (44%), but cooperative VRLAs (37%) see growing adoption. Collaborative designs often rely on constructivist educational theory, while cooperative designs tend to leverage role specialisation to mirror real‐world practices, particularly in vocational training and task‐specific scenarios. However, 84% of VRLAs are inaccessible, limiting their broader application. Many studies lack robust didactic justifications, underscoring the need for clearer frameworks.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
        systematic review
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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