The growing attention towards immersive technologies such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), mixed reality (MR), extended reality (XR), and the metaverse are revolutionizing cultural heritage education and tourism. Such technologies offer immersive and interactive experiences that transform the user’s exploration of museums, cultural heritage sites, educational content, and historical landmarks. This article presents a structured framework that addresses the advancement and application of these technologies in cultural heritage education to improve user experience, learning, emotional connection, and motivation. To further explore recent trends, issues, and opportunities, the article offers a comprehensive overview of the impact of state-of-the-art immersive technology on user experience within heritage education environments . The study also outlined standard questionnaires and effective methodologies for user experience evaluations. Furthermore, the article addresses the influence of standards and guidelines recommended by standardized bodies and organizations on XR and metaverse applications. It discussed how these standards and recommendations can play a role in setting protocols that shape the development of immersive heritage education environments. Finally, we introduce an architecture model for XR and metaverse applications that can assess developers, researchers, and stakeholders to enable immersive and interactive educational experiences, bridging geographical and physical barriers. This research is intended to help academic and industry stakeholders understand the integration of digital heritage preservation tools and user experience standards critical to advancing educational engagement in cultural heritage.

Engagement and motivation are critical factors in effective learning, particularly in educational contexts that require deep understanding and retention, such as architectural history. This study investigates the role of gamified learning in the metaverse as a tool to enhance student engagement and motivation. Using the Spatial platform, a virtual learning environment was developed where participants interact with digitally reconstructed historical landmarks and complete tasks that explore architectural styles, techniques, and cultural contexts. The research evaluates the impact of this immersive approach on learning outcomes by focusing on participant engagement and intrinsic motivation. A mixed-methods approach is employed, collecting data through pre-and post-tests, engagement questionnaires, usability surveys, and in-game analytics such as task completion rates and time spent in the virtual environment. Qualitative insights are gathered through interviews to understand user perceptions of the gamified experience. These results show that metaverse-based gamified learning can make people more interested and motivated, making it a great way to teaching architectural history and other complex subjects.