During the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw the education industry transition from physical classes to online and remote studying.
Most schools and universities have now embraced a blended education format that combines both physical and remote learning.
In the coming years, there may be another technology that emerges and makes learning more immersive.
This technology goes by the name “metaverse.” In this article, we will discuss the role of the metaverse in education and how you can use this game-changing technology.
How can You Use Metaverse in Education?
For those wondering what a metaverse is, allow us to clear it up for you.
Metaverse is a 3D virtual world where you can meet, play, work and interact with others via digital avatars.
In the metaverse, you can do things that you do in your real life, whether it’s going to the mall, attending a concert or buying virtual clothing.
You can also socialize with other people, hold work meetings, among other things.
The only difference is that you’ll be doing all these in a virtual environment.
Okay, you now get the metaverse concept. But how can you use this technology in schools and universities?
To get started with metaverse, you need to access it using virtual reality headsets, smartphone and PC devices and augmented reality glasses. Companies, big and small, are researching and investing in making this technology available.
As a teacher or lecturer, you can log in to your metaverse via your avatar, head to class and teach your students through 3D simulation.
The teaching experience will be like being in an actual classroom where you can see your student’s avatars and interact with them.
In a real sense, though, you and your students will be sitting on your couches at home.
What Will the Metaverse be Used for in Education?
The benefits that the metaverse brings to the education industry are endless. Here is a glimpse of how the metaverse promotes education.
Virtual Learning
In the metaverse, teachers and students still attend classes remotely and online.
This game-changing technology takes the learning experience a notch up by allowing students to learn through a virtual space. Lecturers and students can get into a virtual classroom, which may be a version of the real classrooms that they know.
The virtual classroom has a whiteboard where the teacher or lecturer presents his coursework. He can embed any content on the whiteboard, from videos to documents to websites.
Students can also use the metaverse to hold discussions and debates and do group assignments.
They can sit together in a virtual class and interact through their avatars. Students can also decide to discuss in a different virtual environment, for example, in a park or restaurant.
Simulating Real-life Situations
The biggest challenge with learning online is performing lab work, conducting scientific experiments and showcasing prototypes.
Doing this is no longer a challenge in the metaverse because students can go into virtual labs to conduct scientific experiments. For example, assume you are in an anatomy class.
You can dissect a virtual lab rat or expand a human heart to view each part. If you are in a history class, you may travel back in time to view ancient Rome or experience the Mongol Empire of Genghis khan.
Astronomy students can also travel to virtual space to see the solar system.
Participating in Virtual Campus activities
The metaverse takes learning to a whole new level by allowing students to participate in virtual campus activities.
After class, students can walk around the virtual campus and attend other virtual activities such as art and history classes.
They may also take a virtual trip to go anywhere they want, whether the Great Wall of China or Mount Everest. The metaverse makes learning more exciting and immersive.
How can Teachers Benefit from the Metaverse?
Reduced Cost
Like online studying, metaverse reduces the cost of commuting for both teachers and students. It also reduces the cost of setting up auditoriums and laboratories for training purposes.
Using the metaverse is less costly because the teacher simply recreates their virtual space and fills it with digital learning tools and equipment.
An Immersive Learning Experience
The metaverse allows students and teachers to interact in real-time. The teacher can also see the students who attend classes because they will be logged in via the avatars.
Teachers can apply the theory they teach by simulating real-life situations, which enables students to understand better. They can simulate role plays to demonstrate class examples.
Will The Metaverse Be The Next Big Thing In Education?
The metaverse makes learning effective and more immersive.
The benefits that this technology brings to the education industry are numerous.
The metaverse allows students and lecturers to attend classes through virtual classrooms.
It enables lecturers to simulate real life situations to explain their theory and content better.
This technology also cuts costs for lecturers when commuting and purchasing lab equipment and tools for experiments.
The metaverse basically takes online studying to another level.