Shaping the Future of Physics Education through Intelligent Virtual Environments: A Global Bibliometric Analysis of Research Trends and Emerging Learning Technologies
Keywords:
Bibliometric Analysis, Inquiry-Based Learning, Physics Education, Reflective Practice, Science EducationAbstract
This study maps global research trends, intellectual structures, and emerging technologies in physics education through intelligent virtual environments, including virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and immersive simulations. A descriptive quantitative approach using bibliometric analysis was employed. Data were collected from the Scopus database (2015–2024) with a final dataset of 3,318 documents. We used VOSviewer and Biblioshiny to examine publication trends, citation patterns, collaboration networks, and keyword co-occurrence. The findings reveal a significant annual growth rate of 13.49% in publications, indicating increasing global interest in intelligent virtual environments. Research is dominated by keywords such as virtual reality, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. Three major research clusters were identified: virtual learning environments, artificial intelligence in education, and simulation-based physics learning. The United States and China are the leading contributors, while international collaboration remains relatively moderate at 19.11%. These trends show the growing integration of immersive and AI-based technologies to enhance physics learning. This study provides a comprehensive bibliometric mapping of intelligent virtual environments in physics education, integrating technological trends with a sustainability perspective. It offers strategic insights into future research directions and supports the development of innovative, technology-based physics education aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 4.
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