Extended Reality (XR) Applications in Environmental Education

Abstract

Environmental education plays a crucial role in developing knowledge, attitudes, skills, and environmental awareness for understanding contemporary socio-environmental challenges. Since environmental issues are often complex, locally situated, and connected to real ecosystems, pedagogical approaches that support experiential, situated, place-based, and inquiry-based learning are particularly important. In this context, Extended Reality technologies, such as Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, and Mixed Reality, offer new opportunities to enrich environmental education by connecting physical observation with digital representations, spatial data, simulations, and interactive learning environments. The present paper examines the role of XR applications in environmental education, with emphasis on field-based learning, ecological observation, environmental inquiry, education for sustainable development, and the emerging role of Artificial Intelligence. It presents the main technological categories, their pedagogical foundations, representative applications of AR, VR, MR, and hybrid XR approaches, as well as key challenges related to pedagogical design, accessibility, technical reliability, content accuracy, and the long-term sustainability of such applications.