Higher education in the face of the push of new technologies. Virtual, augmented and mixed reality in the teaching environment

摘要

Almost by magic, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, schools and universities around the world closed their doors, affecting some 1.5 billion students worldwide. This new situation has cascading consequences in the lives of students, whether they are studying abroad or at home. The closures, as a measure to contain the Covid-19 pandemic, have led to an accelerated deployment of distance education solutions to ensure educational continuity. The obstacles are manifold, from low connectivity and lack of online content aligned with national curricula to a faculty unprepared for this "new normal. Regardless of the level of education, the fundamental danger is that inequalities in learning will widen, marginalization will increase and the most disadvantaged students will be unable to continue their studies. Higher education is not an exception, although at this level digital technology has had the greatest impact in recent decades, which is why this article has focused on the influence that virtual, augmented and mixed reality could have on the Higher Education environment, aimed at improving student academic performance and boosting their motivation. It is concluded that although this new technology has been very well received by students, it is necessary to increase the number of studies on the incorporation of new technology in the educational field, because most of the studies are very specific and it would be advisable to implement longitudinal studies.