Escape room in 3D virtual worlds: Reflections on new digital skills for innovative teaching by special educational teachers in training.

The introduction of virtual worlds and digital escape rooms in education marks a significantmilestone for inclusive education. This study explored the impact of 3D Learning Virtual Worlds and escape roomson the motivation and digital skills of 840 special education teachers in training at the University of Foggia. Usingthe DigiComp 2.2 framework and the FrameVR.io platform, participants created immersive virtual worlds anddesigned educational escape rooms during their internships. Results showed significant improvements in digitalskills, particularly in problem-solving and digital content creation. Moreover, the System Usability Scale (SUS)analysis highlighted a positive perception of the usability of virtual worlds, with room for improvement. The studyconfirms the potential of virtual worlds in promoting active and inclusive learning, offering new opportunities forthe digital transformation of education.