The Dilemma of Teacher Training for the Use of the Metaverse and Other Immersive Technologies in Teaching and Learning Processes: An Integrative Review

The use of virtual environments in educational processes is a reality, and even at different levels, it is present in the daily life of educational institutions. There are many challenges to overcome, and access to technological resources is just one of them. The preparation of individuals for this context is part of the formation of a cyber-citizen, who not only uses technology but also understands the ethical and social implications of its use. From this scenario, we intend to investigate the main strategies used in the training processes of the academic community, especially teachers, regarding immersive technologies, such as AR, VR and the metaverse. The main results indicate that teachers who have undergone training for the use of these technologies understand their importance and impact on the learning processes, they recognize that there are opportunities for students to develop practical knowledge, solve problems more effectively, foster creativity, and more. However, they also acknowledge the limitations of using these technologies properly, such as generational differences and a lack of understanding of how to make sense of them in the teaching and learning process. Moreover, the results shows that teacher training strategies need to be reassessed, as traditional methods continue to be employed, thereby constraining opportunities for practical learning.