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In a post-COVID-19 era, the use of new technologies has emerged to maintain physical distancing and continuity in education providing remote access to a myriad of instructional possibilities to engage learners in a more active and richer learning experience. Consequently, education has been forced to rapidly adapt technology for learning purposes. Technology in an adult education setting can improve students’ engagement, enhance participation, improve critical thinking and problem-solving, provide immediate feedback, foster hands-on learning, and develop new skills to fulfill the adult’s specific educational needs. Consequently, the use of technology for adult education might imply using some new applications such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). Virtual reality technologies allow users to fully immerse and interact with virtual environments and objects, providing sensorial feedback. Augmented reality allows the interaction with the surrounding environment by superimposing images to real scenarios. Both technologies can be used as an enabler element to foster Self-Directed Learning (SDL) and open the opportunities for creating an adult learner’s richer experience. Institutions and practitioners can use VR and AR technologies to effectively adapt their practices to the adult learning field. Based on a systematic literature, this study is intended to provide an overview of AR and VR technologies and their practical applications to the field of adult education.

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Regina Giraldo-Garcia

Department of Educational Studies

Graduate