Enhancing Multiliteracy through Virtual Reality: An Inclusive Approach to Critical Immersive-Triggered Literacy

Abstract

This study investigates the potential of Virtual Reality (VR) technology to enhance multiliteracies in the English as a Foreign Language (EFL) context leveraging Multiuser Virtual Reality environments (MUVEs). The virtual tour “A Glance at the Past” was designed to respond to the mixed-ability requirements of formal education for an inclusive learning environment leveraging the affordances of a low-cost, user-friendly MUVE, appropriate for the age group and educational setting. The environment was designed as a two-level immersive experience, facilitating inquiry-based learning and differentiated instruction needs. It aims to investigate the effectiveness of Critical Immersive-Triggered Literacy (CITL) introduced by [1] as an essential literacy for decoding and encoding digital content, and higher-order critical thinking skills and creativity enhancement in the VR context.  The study was conducted in a Greek formal education setting for two consecutive years, in eight 60-minute sessions each year. Findings revealed that immersive-triggered learning instances improved the participants’ performance and enhanced multiliteracy building in a cross-curricular setting, which provides valuable insights into immersive technologies integration in formal mixed-ability education practices.