Virtual reality learning is making waves at 10 universities and has ventured as far as outer space.
This week's stories combine to showcase the astounding real-life effects of metaverse education. metaverse learning This innovative approach has the potential to revolutionize future educational methods. To start, Iowa Capital Dispatch reported on Tuesday that VictoryXR VictoryXR has successfully launched virtual campuses and classrooms across ten universities in the U.S. Just on the same day, the International Space University conducted its first in-person lecture in the metaverse, thanks to the assistance of the Web3 company Metavisionaries.
Both prove that ready or not, Learning through VR is set to be the educational model of the future. While discussions about Web3 often get sidetracked with a focus on the niche aspects like NFTs and cryptocurrencies, developments like this signal a broader shift in how society approaches education. Students are beginning to prefer online learning to traditional on-campus experiences, a trend accelerated by the pandemic.
VictoryXR, recognized globally for its innovative contributions to education last September, initiated this project at the request of Morehouse College in Atlanta. The college sought the expertise of the Davenport-based company to support students who faced challenges with online learning during the pandemic. Within a mere 10 weeks, Morehouse had a complete curriculum ready to go, and VictoryXR facilitated the necessary software. Students at Morehouse now have the opportunity to learn subjects such as inorganic chemistry, world history, and biology through VR.
Meanwhile, Meta brought the hardware Equipping all those students with Oculus Quest 2 headsets can be quite a financial burden for any educational institution, regardless of their funding.
"Morehouse is among the 10 colleges selected for virtual classrooms with support from a grant provided by Meta,\" reported Iowa Capital Dispatch. \"Public records from The Chronicle of Higher Education reveal that these universities will receive upwards of $500,000 along with VR headsets under their agreements with VictoryXR.\"
VictoryXR has also developed similar educational solutions for institutions like the University of Kansas, West Virginia, and California State University.
Meanwhile, in Técnico, Portugal, the International Space University (ISU) held its inaugural hands-on lecture in the metaverse titled \"Understanding human physiology in the extraordinary environment of space.\" This session was part of the university's 34th iteration of its Space Studies Program (SSP), marking the first try at this immersive method. iTnews .
They’ve been developing VR programs The SSP22 edition represented ISU's initial step toward implementing this innovative approach.
"Our gratitude goes to Metavisionaries and CEO Wasim Ahmed for this fantastic opportunity, especially for providing all the VR goggles used for this event,\" stated Arif Goktug Karacalioglu, director and manager of SSP22.
It's almost as if VR companies encourage adoption with the same strategy as a notorious drug dealer—offer a little to get people hooked, resulting in increased demand for more hardware, software, and overall engagement. This situation raises numerous ethical considerations, particularly concerning privacy .
According to Iowa Capital Dispatch, Meta’s devices have the capability to collect data while in use.
"The data generated in this partnership remains the property of the universities,\" they noted during their report. The Chronicle \"Data collection will vary based on the brand of headset utilized by students,\" explained Grubbs. The technology from the grant may include products from Meta, Pico Technology, or others, each with individual privacy policies regarding data collection.\" HTC Grubbs asserted that, at present, \"no data is being collected from users.\" VictoryXR guarantees that it will only gather essential information like names and emails for account creation. However, users must log in to
access their virtual classrooms. Facebook Additionally, Oculus devices gather details about users' physical characteristics, environmental movements, and hand sizes for tracking purposes.
In the realm of education, the potential loss of privacy could actually yield positive outcomes. Consider this: during my time in business school, I didn’t grasp accounting even though I passed because we took exams on personal laptops devoid of supervision. The smartest student figured out all the answers and shared them widely. However, that experience taught me what it felt like to truly engage with the material.
Grubbs informed Iowa Capital Dispatch that those pursuing health sciences stand to gain the most from VictoryXR’s VR classrooms. \"A teacher can remove a heart from a cadaver and hand it to another student,\" he remarked—something that isn’t feasible in every lab, particularly difficult from home. However, similar potential exists for students studying history and the humanities. VictoryXR even recreated a metaverse version of the courtroom from Harper Lee’s \"To Kill a Mockingbird.\" something about business .
"Experiencing the book gives students the perspective of those who sat in the courtroom,\" Grubbs commented. \"Our goal is to facilitate an understanding achievable only through immersive experiences. Students have the chance to stand atop the Great Wall of China, travel to Iceland, and wander through the Redwoods—all while learning within our virtual reality environment.\"
VictoryXR carries an ambitious vision that \"every educational institution globally will integrate a metaversity within the next five to seven years.\" They aim to kick things off by establishing their first metaversity in Europe this August, before venturing into opportunities in India starting in September 2022.
In the meantime, Metavisionaries will collaborate with Ice Cubes and the College of Business and Economics at Qatar University to \"launch a global business sustainability space challenge in connection with the FIFA World Cup.\"
The era of metaverse education is upon us, sweeping the globe and reaching into the cosmos.
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In line with the Trust Project guidelines Vittoria Benzine is an art writer and personal essayist based in Brooklyn who focuses on contemporary art, exploring human narratives, counterculture, and chaos magic. She contributes to publications such as Maxim, Hyperallergic, Brooklyn Magazine, and various others.
