{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,10]],"date-time":"2026-03-10T14:53:01Z","timestamp":1773154381125,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":30,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"7","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,3]],"date-time":"2025-07-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1751500800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Information"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Extended reality (XR) has emerged as a transformative technology, offering innovative ways to visualize and interact with digital content. For educators, XR constitutes a valuable tool that advances pedagogical experience and improves teaching quality and clarity. While the literature highlights case studies and general guidelines for XR content development, there is limited focus on interaction techniques based on a comparative methodology within educational XR games. This study evaluates different interaction techniques from developers and users perspectives to identify strengths and limitations, providing useful insights to guide future developments in the field. Performed analysis determines the context in which each technique is most effective, how different techniques can be combined, and how integration can be improved for optimal impact. Additionally, methods for transitioning from traditional interaction techniques to modern XR approaches utilizing 3D space and interaction requirements are proposed. A theoretical framework for integrating, configuring, and blending interaction techniques in XR environments tailored for educational purposes is introduced to assist developers and educators in selecting and combining techniques to maximize their effectiveness in different educational contexts and challenges. By addressing these critical aspects, this paper contributes to advancing the understanding and design of XR interaction strategies, ultimately fostering better learning experiences and leading to improved educational outcomes.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/info16070572","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,3]],"date-time":"2025-07-03T10:45:11Z","timestamp":1751539511000},"page":"572","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Evaluating Interaction Techniques in XR Environments Through the Prism of Four EduGames"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6660-1891","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ilias","family":"Logothetis","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Hellenic Mediterranean University, 71410 Heraklion, Greece"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5711-5405","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Vasiliki Eirini","family":"Chatzea","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Hellenic Mediterranean University, 71410 Heraklion, Greece"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1410-0822","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Iraklis","family":"Katsaris","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Hellenic Mediterranean University, 71410 Heraklion, Greece"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0777-4837","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Alexandros","family":"Papadakis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Hellenic Mediterranean University, 71410 Heraklion, Greece"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Vasileios","family":"Kontoulis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Hellenic Mediterranean University, 71410 Heraklion, Greece"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Dimitris","family":"Pirpiris","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Hellenic Mediterranean University, 71410 Heraklion, Greece"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0005-6227-663X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Myron","family":"Sfyrakis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Hellenic Mediterranean University, 71410 Heraklion, Greece"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0008-0429-5906","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Antonios","family":"Stamatakis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Hellenic Mediterranean University, 71410 Heraklion, Greece"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0726-8627","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Nikolaos","family":"Vidakis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Hellenic Mediterranean University, 71410 Heraklion, Greece"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,3]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"81","DOI":"10.11113\/humentech.v1n2.27","article-title":"A Review of Extended Reality (XR) Technologies in the Future of Human Education: Current Trend and Future Opportunity","volume":"1","author":"Alnagrat","year":"2022","journal-title":"HumEnTech"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"645","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jmsy.2023.10.016","article-title":"Adopting extended reality? 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