Conceptualizing Extended Reality Metaverse-based Pedagogy Model: A Hospitality and Tourism Education Perspective

The prevalence of online learning has significantly increased, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, the shift to online education has presented numerous obstacles and concerns. The correlation between a lack of enthusiasm towards online learning and subpar academic achievements suggests the necessity to tackle the issues that impact students' involvement. Educators need to address obstacles encountered by students in online learning, including diminished concentration and inadequate learning delivery. Metaverse technologies have attracted growing interest among academia and practitioners for their possibilities in online education. Although metaverse technologies show promise for online education, there is a lack of research on their suitability for hospitality education. Comprehending how metaverse technologies can be seamlessly incorporated into online hospitality educational environments is crucial for the progression of such technology. Therefore, this study aims to conceptualize an extended reality metaverse-based pedagogy model for online hospitality education. The conceptual paper is a great resource for stakeholders who are interested in investigating the possibilities of metaverse technologies for hospitality education. This work also establishes a basis for future research that investigates the application of metaverse technologies in online educational environments.