Immersiven Technologien wie Virtual Reality (VR) wird aktuell in allen Bildungsbereichen ein grosses Potenzial als Bildungstechnologien und Lernmedien zugeschrieben, obwohl derzeit noch viele Fragen bzgl. Lernwirksamkeit, pädagogischer und didaktischer Gestaltung sowie medizinischer und ethischer Einsatzrisiken nicht ausreichend beantwortet werden können. Diese haben jedoch insbesondere für den Schulunterricht eine besondere Relevanz, da Kinder immer auch Schutzbefohlene darstellen. Dieser Artikel gibt im metaphorischen Sinne eines «Beipackzettels» einen Überblick über die Bedenken und Risiken des schulischen VR-Einsatzes aus medizinischer, pädagogischer, didaktischer, technischer und ethischer Perspektive mit dem Ziel, eine sensibilisierte und reflektierte Nutzung dieser vielversprechenden Technologie zu ermöglichen. Daher werden weiterhin konkrete Gestaltungsempfehlungen für Lehrende, Lernende, Eltern, Bildungsinstitutionen, Personen in der Entwicklung sowie politische Akteur:innen formuliert. Dieser Artikel möchte des Weiteren mit diesen Empfehlungen einen Grundstein für den interdisziplinären Diskurs im Bereich der schulischen Nutzung von VR als Lernmedium legen. Er ist daher mit einem Beteiligungsaufruf zur Mitwirkung aller am Schulunterricht beteiligten Akteur:innen verbunden.

Background: Removal of Kirschner wires (K-wires) after fracture treatment in the upper limb is unpleasant for children. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether virtual reality (VR) distraction could improve pain and the overall experience for children. Methods: An RCT was performed in a single outpatient fracture clinic, where children (aged 6–15 years) were randomized 1 : 1, in three age strata, to additional VR or standard of care. Pain perception was assessed using the Wong–Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale by neutral observers and later by the patients and their guardians. Further measures included the Face/Legs/Activity/Cry/Consolability (FLACC) Pain Scale, the modified Yale Pain Anxiety Scale (mYPAS), and questionnaires, as well as objective data, such as heart rate variability and blood pressure. Results: A total of 146 patients were recruited into the trial. The VR group showed significantly less pain on the Wong–Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale (OR 0.23 (95% c.i. 0.12 to 0.43)) compared with the control group. Observers rated the pain >2 for 43% of patients in the VR group and 74% of patients in the control group. Observer scales (the FLACC Pain Scale and the mYPAS) during K-wire removal also indicated less pain (OR 0.36 (95% c.i. 0.19 to 0.24) and 0.29 (95% c.i. 0.16 to 0.52) respectively). The difference in pain rated >2 between the VR and control group was smaller directly after (59% versus 69% respectively) and 2 weeks after (58% versus 70% respectively) K-wire removal. Children in the VR group were less aware of the painful stimulus directly after and 2 weeks after wire extraction. Conclusion: VR distraction effectively reduces pain during K-wire removal in children. VR positively impacts the procedural memory of children. Registration number: DRKS00020229 (Deutsches Register Klinischer Studien (DRKS; that is the German Clinical Trials Register); date of registration 10 December 2019).

Background: Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a high-resolution imaging technique capable of quantifying Blood Flow at Depth (BD) and the Attenuation Coefficient (AC). However, the clinical relevance of these parameters in burn assessment remains unclear. This study investigated whether OCT-derived metrics can differentiate between superficial and deep pediatric hand burns. Method: This prospective, single-center study analyzed 73 OCT scans from 37 children with thermal hand injuries. A structured algorithm was used to evaluate AC and BD. Results: The mean AC was 1.61 mm⁻¹ (SD ± 0.48), with significantly higher values in deep burns (2.11 mm⁻¹ ± 0.53) compared to superficial burns (1.49 mm⁻¹ ± 0.38; p < 0.001), reflecting increased optical density in more severe burns. BD did not differ significantly between burn depths, although superficial burns more often showed visible capillary networks. Conclusions: This is the first study to assess both AC and BD using OCT in pediatric hand burns. AC demonstrated potential as a diagnostic marker for burn depth, whereas BD had limited utility. Image quality limitations highlight the need for technical improvements to enhance OCT’s clinical application.