Metaverse in Education: What Has Been Done so Far? A Systematic Literature Review to Map Benefits and Limitations and to Set Future Research and Application Directions

The use of Metaverse and related technologies in educational field comes out of a need to solve a series of challenges arising from the advent of fifth industrial revolution and from the Covid-19 pandemic period. Persistent improvements in the learning process of students and, more broadly, people, result from the adoption of platforms that integrate the Metaverse, enabling greater use of virtual objects in game-related contexts. However, given the rapid evolution of this technological field, there is a lack of clear understanding of the current Metaverse advancements in education. In this context, our study aims, through a Systematic Literature Review method, to explore recent developments arising from the use of the Metaverse in education, with the goal of identifying the advantages and limitations that have emerged in different educational activities. After conducting preliminary bibliometric analysis to assess the performance of our analysis sample, proceeded with a content analysis of 41 papers that describe case study of the Metaverse in education. This analysis focused on several aspects. From the analysis carried out, the use of Metaverse-enabling technologies generated a significant improvement in the learning process, which was much more immersive and interactive. The value of the study lies in providing a list of benefits and limitations derived from applied case studies. These findings serve as a guideline for the implementation of future Metaverse-based educational experience, benefiting educational institutions, students, researchers, and business trainers alike.