Beyond Immersion: A Systematic Review of Extended Reality and Biofeedback in Social Emotional Learning

Authors

  • Khetam Dakhilallah Al-Alaya Petra District Education Directorate, Wadi Musa, Jordan
  • Zaid Issa Abdullah Al-Kararbeh AL-Hussein Bin Tala University, Ma’an, Jordan
  • Wafaa Yousef Saleh Al-Adwan Ministry of Education, Amman, Jordan
  • Hussein Alwan Al-Balqa Applied University, Al-Salt, Jordan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3991/ijim.v20i16.62290

Keywords:

Extended reality, social-emotional learning, immersive education, biofeedback

Abstract


This is a qualitative systematic review examining the effectiveness of the combination of the extended reality (XR) technologies and biofeedback mechanisms with social-emotional learning (SEL) outcomes in school-aged learners with a specific emphasis on adolescent girls. Based on the 2020–2025 peer-reviewed literature, the review will combine the results of different educational and clinical settings and explore the role of immersive digital environments and physiological feedback systems in emotional regulation, empathy building, and metacognitive development. Instead of using a strict method such as PRISMA, they use the thematic synthesis based on the self-regulated learning (SRL) model, which is composed of the forethought, performance, and self-reflection stages to investigate the effects of technology-based interventions on emotional and cognitive learning processes. The analysis demonstrates that XR environments can support the learner presence, motivation, and perspective-taking in early goal-setting and emotional awareness and regulation in performance by real-time biofeedback. The literature however also identifies gaps especially in long term efficacy, gender specific-design, and scalability of these tools in mainstream classrooms. The review suggests that an Immersive Hybrid Feedback model is a conceptual intermediate between affective computing and educational design as an example of the potential and constraints of adopting embodied technologies into social-emotional learning.

Author Biographies

Khetam Dakhilallah Al-Alaya, Petra District Education Directorate, Wadi Musa, Jordan

Khetam Dakhilallah Al‑Alaya is an Educational Director with the Ministry of Education in the Wadi Musa District, Jordan. She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Educational Sciences. Her professional career in the Ministry of Education began as a teacher, after which she served as an assistant principal and later as a school principal. Al‑Alaya has served on the administrative boards of several charitable organizations. In her academic work, she has published numerous research papers on technical education and the application of modern teaching and learning strategies. Among her publications is a study entitled "The Impact of Employing Active Learning Strategies in the Arabic Language Curriculum on the Achievement of Ninth-Grade Students."She has also worked with various cultural institutions, including youth centers, where she conducted voluntary Arabic language workshops. In addition, she is a member of the National Society for the Preservation of Petra, one of Jordan’s most significant historical and archaeological sites. Al‑Alaya has organized and participated in several academic and cultural events, including a local seminar on the Arabic language and a local scientific forum on artificial intelligence.

Zaid Issa Abdullah Al-Kararbeh, AL-Hussein Bin Tala University, Ma’an, Jordan

Dr. Zaid Eisa Abdallah Al-Kararbeh is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Business, Al-Hussein Bin Talal University, Jordan. He holds a PhD in Business Administration from Ain Shams University, Egypt, and a Master's degree in Business Administration. Prior to obtaining his doctorate, he served in several administrative positions, including as a principal of various secondary schools in Balqa Governorate. He currently serves as a faculty member at Al-Hussein Bin Talal University. Throughout his academic career, Dr. Al-Kararbeh has published numerous research papers in the fields of management, information technology, e-marketing, and the application of information technology in education. He has also participated in several local and international scientific conferences.

Wafaa Yousef Saleh Al-Adwan, Ministry of Education, Amman, Jordan

Dr. Wafaa Yousef Saleh Al-Adwan is the Head of the Educational Supervision Department at the Directorate of Education for the Southern Shuna District, Ministry of Education, Jordan. She holds a PhD in Educational Administration from the University of Jordan and a Master of Science in Educational Administration (Educational Leadership and School Administration) from Middle East University. Dr. Al-Adwan has more than twenty years of experience in the educational sector. She worked as a computer teacher at both the basic and secondary levels for ten years and later served as an assistant principal at a secondary school for two years. Subsequently, she held several supervisory positions and attained the rank of Advanced Educational Administrator. Dr. Al-Adwan has published research in reputable academic journals, including the Jordanian Educational Journal, and has contributed to interdisciplinary research projects addressing educational reform and innovation. Her professional and academic interests focus on enhancing educational quality, promoting innovative supervisory practices, supporting remedial learning initiatives, and fostering global citizenship competencies. Through her leadership and scholarly contributions, she continues to advance the sustainability and effectiveness of educational institutions in Jordan.

Hussein Alwan, Al-Balqa Applied University, Al-Salt, Jordan

Dr. Hussein Ahmad Fadi Alwan is a researcher at Al-Balqa Applied University, Jordan. He holds a PhD in Business Administration from the World Islamic Sciences and Education University (WISE University), Jordan, and a Master's degree in Management Information Systems. His academic background is complemented by extensive professional experience in management, information technology consulting, and technical support across both public and private sectors. Dr. Alwan's research interests include internet banking, mobile banking, e-marketing, e-business, digital marketing, AI-marketing, strategic planning, e-organization's leadership, etc. within the Jordanian context. He has substantial experience in academic research, including instrument development and quantitative data analysis using a variety of analytical software packages such as SPSS, SmartPLS, AMOS, EViews, etc. He is Fluent in both Arabic and English, Dr. Alwan brings a strong interdisciplinary perspective that integrates information systems and business administration.

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Published

2026-08-21

How to Cite

Al-Alaya, K. D., Abdullah Al-Kararbeh, Z. I., Saleh Al-Adwan, W. Y., & Fadi Alwan, H. A. (2026). Beyond Immersion: A Systematic Review of Extended Reality and Biofeedback in Social Emotional Learning. International Journal of Interactive Mobile Technologies (iJIM), 20(16), pp. 24–37. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijim.v20i16.62290

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