The Metaverse is often imagined as a place for gaming and social interaction1, but it also holds exiting possibilities for education. The coronavirus pandemic has tremendously impacted education worldwide, opening the door for Metaverse to create an entirely new educational ecosystem1. At the same time, with students’ attention span shrinking and they struggle to stay engaged, immersive technologies like VR and AR could reshape how we learn. Instead of passively listening to lectures, students could actively experience knowledge by exploring a 3D model of the human body as a biology student, or a flight attendant could be practicing with a simulation of an airplane. Stanford for example, have been providing a ‘Virtual People’ class where you learn in the Metaverse, using VR technology4.
There is already evidence that immersive learning can be effective. According to PwC’s VR Training Study2, employees trained in VR learned up to 4 times faster than in a classroom, scored 44% higher on their assessment after completing the VR module, and felt 275% more confident applying their skills. This shows that VR and the Metaverse can not only make training faster, but also more impactful. Even all the participants preferred having a VR course in their learning curriculum2.
Another potential benefit is accessibility. Virtual classrooms can reduce physical barriers for people with disabilities, those living far away, or students who feel socially anxious in traditional settings.
Still, there are limitations. Equipment like VR headsets and powerful devices are very expensive, raising concerns about affordability and the risk of widening the digital divide3. Besides, while the Metaverse technology is immersive, it may never fully replace the human connection and empathy that comes with face-to-face education.
In my view, the Metaverse should not be seen as a replacement for traditional education, but rather as a powerful complement. The real question is not whether we can learn in the Metaverse, but whether we can do without losing the human elements that make education meaningful.
References:
1 Onu, P., Pradhan, A. & Mbohwa, C. Potential to use metaverse for future teaching and learning. Educ Inf Technol 29, 8893–8924 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-023-12167-9
2 PricewaterhouseCoopers. (2020). What does virtual reality and the metaverse mean for training? PwC. https://www.pwc.com/us/en/tech-effect/emerging-tech/virtual-reality-study.html
3 Van Dijk, J. (2020). The digital divide. John Wiley & Sons.
4 Stanford ‘Virtual People’ class in the Metaverse.
