A Crash Course — the Metaverse for Education. What’s Inside?

You’ve likely seen the word Metaverse in the media and on your social feeds. So what is this “next iteration of the internet” and what does it mean for education and learning?

In short, the Metaverse is a virtual playground that goes far beyond the realm of video games. Pokémon GO aside, XR (extended reality) has plenty of practical and impactful uses that could positively shape our future if tended to with care.

We’re a team of researchers, educators, and entrepreneurs who are fascinated by all the possibilities that these new technologies offer, especially when it comes to education. We created this evidence-based, introductory PDF guide to familiarize readers with the Metaverse and we hope it provides you with a useful overview of its components, its potential for education, and the positives and negatives of learning with these new technologies. 

So, if you've ever had questions about...

…then this guide is for you! We'll take deep dives into all of the above and more, and by the time you finish reading, you should be able to think more comfortably and critically about the possibilities ahead.

Importance of this Evidence-Based Guide for the Future of the Metaverse and Education

We're still in the early stages of using XR tools and platforms for education, and there are plenty of insights to learn and wrinkles to iron out as we go. That said, the more carefully we consider our students and their individual needs, the better we can ensure the Metaverse offers them the best possible entryway to virtual learning opportunities.

There are many factors to think about when designing for the experiences of diverse learners, educators, and other stakeholders. We need to understand the potential pitfalls of these technologies – as much as the benefits – and tap into varied perspectives and areas of expertise in order to make them really count.

Learning with XR is still in its infancy, and as the Metaverse continues to grow and evolve, so too will opportunities to create impactful, immersive educational moments both inside and outside of the classroom. 

It is important that everyone who is eager to advance learning in the Metaverse embraces evidence-based strategies as we pave the way forward together.

Bridging the divides between designers of cutting-edge technologies and the educators who will use them is crucial, and we hope that this guide will serve as inspiration to create high-quality XR learning experiences, to experiment when and where possible, to build evidence, and to transparently share discoveries and insights with the community. In this way, we hope to fine-tune these avenues for learning so that they become mainstays within the educational system.