Digital Classroom: School in the Metaverse

Digitalization has already changed the way we learn and teach significantly - at least in some parts of the world. While many schools have already successfully integrated modern technologies such as interactive whiteboards, learning platforms and digital tools, there are unfortunately still some educational institutions that have little more than a chalkboard at hand. German schools are also making efforts to use digital technologies to optimize teaching and meet the needs of an even more digital generation. But with the emerging metaverse and new technologies such as 3D, AR, VR and AI, we may be at the beginning of an even greater transformation of education. How could a school in the metaverse be designed and what advantages does it offer compared to existing learning methods? 

Digital revolution in education

Digitalization at schools in Germany has been rather halting so far. Many educational institutions are still struggling with insufficient technical equipment, missing access to fast internet and a lack of digital skills among teachers and students. While some schools in countries such as Estonia, Finland, Norway and Singapore have already embarked well into the digital future, a majority is still behind, especially in Germany. The sudden shift to homeschooling during the pandemic has exposed these limitations with no mercy. Digital learning concepts and tools still offer a lot of untapped potential here, for example: 

• Students could be supported more individually as learning content can be tailored to their needs.  
• Access to global knowledge and a multitude of resources and information that go beyond traditional textbooks.  
• Teaching content can be delivered more vividly with 3D and Augmented Reality views, benefiting visual learners in particular.  
• The ability to learn at your own pace and access content more flexibly outside the classroom. 

The concept of situational learning indicates that learning is more effective when it takes place in an authentic and relevant environment, as knowledge is embedded in the context more effectively. The study „Learning Science in Immersive Virtual Reality“ proved that participants performed significantly better in the application of scientific concepts in immersive VR environments. This points to the fact that immersive environments, combined with targeted learning strategies, can improve understanding and retention by making the learning material more relevant and tangible. 

School in the metaverse - what will it be like? 

With the support of immersive technologies, a classroom no longer has to be tied to physical premises. Teachers and students could meet in a virtual space that looks like a traditional classroom - or could be designed completely differently, for example as ancient Greece for history lessons or as a laboratory for science subjects.

This flexibility also allows students who are unable to leave their homes for health reasons to take part in classes. In addition, virtual classrooms offer a solution to the lack of accessible schools by providing students with physical disabilities with unrestricted access to education.

In the metaverse, you can learn through realistic simulations and interactive 3D models. Experiments that are difficult to carry out in a traditional classroom are now made tangible thanks to 3D technology.

The digital connectivity enables students around the world to learn and develop projects together. Language barriers could be overcome through real-time translations and understanding cultural differences would be improved through direct interaction. Everyone could customize their avatar and learning environment to achieve their personal learning goals. Personal learning goals are specific knowledge or skills based on one's own interests, strengths and learning needs. In the traditional school system, they are often overlooked as the curriculum dominates teaching. In the metaverse, on the other hand, it could be possible for students to set their own priorities in addition to the standardized learning content, whether in certain subjects, projects or skills they are particularly interested in. 

Virtual learning assistants with artificial intelligence can provide additional support, for example when it comes to languages by checking grammar, making corrections and practising pronunciation. Learning progress can be tracked in a personal dashboard and, if necessary, the learning material can be adapted to different learning levels and styles.  

The trailer for the project “Metaverse School” visualizes a comprehensive vision and creates a picture of what the future of learning could look like:

Although the metaverse holds many interesting potentials, there are also challenges that should not be ignored. These include technical barriers, for example, as access to high-quality VR headsets and a fast internet connection is not guaranteed everywhere. Web-based 3D platforms such as rooom can offer an alternative here, as they run smoothly in the browser of laptops, tablets and other devices already available in schools, even without a wearable. The question of how to protect the personal data of students and teachers in the metaverse is also important. Providers such as Deutsche Telekom, for example, attach great importance to data protection and offer a secure IT infrastructure to host sensitive data securely. In addition, not all teachers are currently willing or able to adapt quickly to this new way of teaching. Extensive training and further education on how to use the new tools is necessary. This is why we are currently working on making the relevant platforms as user-friendly and self-explanatory as possible. And even if the metaverse opens up new ways of working together, it could also lead to students having fewer personal interactions. To avoid social isolation, emphasis should be placed on a balance between digital learning paths and face-to-face teaching. 

There are already various approaches to achieving this balance. While Virtual Reality (VR) technology is used to immerse learners completely in digital worlds via VR headsets, Augmented Reality (AR) offers an alternative solution in this regard. Instead, digital content is integrated into the learner's real environment. AR can serve as a bridge between the real and virtual worlds by bringing interactive, digital elements into the real classroom. For example, this technology can bring traditional textbooks to life. When students hold a smartphone or tablet over a book page, they can see a 3D animation of a biological process described in the book, for instance.

The vision of a school in the metaverse is attractive, but the challenges associated with digitalization are still preventing the widespread use of immersive technologies. However, the potential of this new world of learning is enormous and could revolutionize the way education is experienced. In order to exploit this potential, schools, governments and technology providers must work closely together to create the necessary framework conditions. The project “Metaverse School” is currently implementing exactly that - a learning platform for schools that can be used to teach content in an interactive and secure way. With this initiative, the metaverse school could not only be a place of knowledge, but also a place of creativity, collaboration and discovery. 

The key is that the metaverse picks up all students where they are and allows them to find their own learning journey and style. In a world where attention spans are getting shorter and shorter, educational experiences need to be exciting and interactive to keep learners engaged. More experiences, more fun and more focus on children's individual needs could be the answers to making education really work. Children are used to constant sensory overload and expect a certain level of stimulation when learning. Lessons that do not meet these expectations run the risk of losing the students. The metaverse could be the ideal space to design learning that is not only informative, but also engaging and entertaining - meeting the needs of a new generation.