‘Immersive simulation’ can be used to describe multi sensory experiences, such as VR, MR and AR, where users can actively manipulate digital and real objects to varying degrees. ‘Virtual simulation’ (e.g. Second Life) provides a window into a virtual world displayed on a flat tablet, laptop or smartphone screen.

To help with explaining VR, it’s useful to draw on Milgram and Kishino’s (1994) Mixed Reality continuum, which ranges from the completely real-world environment to the completely virtual environment.

360 interactive videos enable users to look in every direction, and can be delivered on flat screen devices as well as head mounted VR displays. The use of hotspots and multiple-choice questions can add a level of interactivity to 360 videos, but this doesn't offer the same multi sensory experience, or level of interactivity, as ‘true VR’.

Sensory immersion alone is unlikely to enhance learning, so it’s important to consider: pedagogic features; the type of media you are using; and whether the hardware constraints will enable learners to achieve the learning objectives.