Hafize Ürüşan

5.14 Going beyond Boundaries with Extended Reality and Gamification in Art Education (Paper)

Hafize Ürüşan – TOBB University of Economics and Technology, Ankara, Turkey

Ahmet Fatih Karakaya – TOBB University of Economics and Technology, Ankara, Turkey

Abstract:

Art education provides a model that enables individuals to establish deep connections with their own cultures and the world. In a time when traditional educational methods struggle to sustain student motivation and engagement, art students seek new opportunities to enhance their creative skills and explore visual arts through innovative means. Integrating gamification and Extended Reality (XR) technologies into art education, while emphasizing the experiential learning approach intrinsic to the field, creates an unexpected learning space with transformative potential, enhancing student productivity.

This study proposes a digital learning platform enriched with these technologies to cultivate critical thinking, cultural awareness, and creative problem-solving capabilities among art students. The proposed platform strengthens students’ visual literacy and aesthetic understanding while providing a digital space for artistic exploration, simulation, creation, and critique, allowing them to discover and realize their creative potential. Designed to leverage XR technology, the platform enables students to interact with their physical surroundings by digitally scanning real objects, spaces, and environments through mobile devices and XR applications. As a result, students can transform their environments into an interactive, unexpected learning space, fostering connections with their cultural histories and experiencing the transformative power of art. By incorporating experiential learning elements fundamental to art education within a sustainable model, the platform aims to reduce the time and material costs associated with physical resources, offering a more efficient, accessible, and sustainable learning experience. This study seeks to contribute new perspectives in art education that support social participation and promote cultural diversity, offering students a more engaging, sustainable, and unexpected educational journey. Furthermore, it aims to inspire students to contribute to the cultural dynamics of future generations by drawing from the cultural richness of their surroundings.