This book provides critical commentary on key issues around virtual reality, using media technology as a tool to challenge perspectives for learning and understanding cultural diversities.

With a focus on empathy, embodiment and ethics, the book interrogates the use of immersive technologies for formal and informal educational contexts. Taking a critical approach to discourses around emerging technology and learning, the book presents the idea that a new literacy is emerging and an emphasis on media and technology is needed in the context of education to explore and experience cultural diversities. Employing a personal reflexive narrative, the chapters highlight key issues through research and interviews with leading practitioners in the field.

Understanding Virtual Reality will be of great interest to academics and students interested in the effects of immersive realities on the education experience, and to anyone keen on exploring the paradigm shift from entertainment to education.

Sarah Jones is continually excited about new technologies and how they can help us think about future media, future education and different ways of understanding. She holds a PhD in Immersive Storytelling and has published extensively on virtual and augmented reality, whilst continuing to make and create immersive experiences. She has advised the UK Government on Immersive Technologies, contributing to evidence around the ethics of being in virtual spaces.

Steve Dawkins is an educator with a background in media education. He has worked at Coventry University in the UK for 20+ years teaching around a range of media, primarily time-based but, increasingly, the production and distribution of content for immersive experiences and those experiences. He is completing a PhD by Publication on experiences of immersive media using a portfolio of outputs that includes original 360-degree documentaries, book chapters and journal articles.

Julian McDougall is a professor in Media and Education, Head of the Centre for Excellence in Media Practice and Principal Fellow of Advance HE. He runs the Professional Doctorate (Ed D) in Creative and Media Education at Bournemouth University, UK, and convenes the annual Global Media Education Summit. He is co-editor of the Routledge Research in Media Literacy and Education book series.