Abstract:

Launched in March 2023, the "Global Shared Learning: Classroom (GSL Classroom)" initiative marks a significant leap in educational innovation within higher education. This groundbreaking project is a collaboration between Tecnológico de Monterrey, Mexico, and Universidad Cardenal Herrera, Spain, facilitated through the COIL framework and hosted on the Tec Virtual Campus Metaverse. Its primary objectives were to enhance design skills, augment spatial tridimensionality, and significantly boost student engagement by leveraging the transformative capabilities of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Virtual Reality (VR).

The initiative adopted a rigorous mixed-methods research design, utilizing two meticulously validated measurement tools. The "Measure of the Ability for Mental Image Rotation" (MARMI) was employed to assess students' spatial abilities, highlighting improvements in their ability to understand and manipulate three-dimensional spaces mentally. Simultaneously, the "Measurement Instrument for Engagement" (UWES-S-9) provided insights into students' levels of engagement, showing a notable uplift in their active participation and emotional investment in the learning process. This dual assessment approach offered a holistic view of the impact that immersive technologies have on enhancing educational outcomes.

A key achievement of this collaboration was the development of the "Sensory Habitat," a project that epitomized the synergy between AI and VR, offering students a platform for rich, immersive educational experiences. Throughout the design process, students harnessed generative AI to ideate and refine their concepts, employing 3D models created by these advanced algorithms. This innovative approach allowed for a seamless transition to virtual environments, where students used VR to virtually visit their designs, validating the materials, emotions, and sensations envisioned in their projects. This initiative not only significantly enhanced students' design and spatial reasoning skills but also led to an unprecedented increase in their engagement levels. By effectively demonstrating how emerging technologies can extend beyond conventional educational methods, the project fostered a deeper intercultural understanding and facilitated collaboration among students from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Reflecting on this initiative's contributions to the technology-enhanced learning discourse, this study affirms the potent role of AI and VR as drivers of innovation in higher education. It elucidates the profound effect these technologies can have on improving design competencies, spatial understanding, and student engagement, offering a scalable and replicable model for future educational endeavors. Beyond setting new benchmarks for international educational collaborations, this research paves the way for future investigations into the long-term effects of these technologies in diversifying disciplines and cultural contexts, underscoring the need for continued exploration into innovative educational practices.

Keywords:

Educational Innovation, Artificial Intelligence, Metaverse, Virtual Reality, Higher Education, COIL Multicultural Education.