An Integrative Assessment Framework for Virtual and Augmented Reality in Educational Settings

The use of virtual and augmented reality (xR) in educational contexts opens up new pedagogical possibilities, but places high demands on planning, technology, and ethical responsibility. To date, no systematic tool is available to help educators and decision-makers evaluate use cases of immersive technologies in a structured manner. This article presents the EDU-xR Fit, an integrative evaluation framework that analyzes the use of xR scenarios across the core areas of pedagogical-didactic adaption and fields of action, as well as technical and contextual levels. The framework was developed through a multiphase exploratory design combining qualitative framework development with a supplementary quantitative persona-based weighting phase. The model also incorporates overarching factors such as appropriateness and ethical safeguards. In a web-based tool, key criteria are evaluated using a five-point Likert scale and linked to practical decision-making aids. The framework is proposed as a preliminary decision-support resource for educators and institutions involved in planning, assessing, and reflecting on xR applications. Given its exploratory development and limited practical evaluation, its applicability to institutional decision-making requires further empirical validation. It is designed to promote a reflective and pedagogically grounded use of xR that is tailored to the specific subject, target group, and institutional context.