Education in the Metaverse
New Digital Experiences Will Shift the Way We Learn and Grow
You're in the 7th grade on the way to the Natural History Museum. You file out of the school bus which holds a foul stench. Your teacher leads the entire class through each bitterly air-conditioned exhibit, lecturing about topics ranging from Mid Century space exploration to carbon dating wooly mammoth fossils. You're about ready to jump into the wildlife reserve pit and just end it right there.
That’s the problem. Not always, but there are large amounts of time wasted where educational information goes in one ear and out the other due to the lack of understanding of how and why people engage with information. Haven't we realized spoon-feeding bullet points just causes regurgitation without digestion? How can we get people, in this case kids, to be truly engaged in the process of education? Moreover, what intellectually vibrant experiences and systems can we create which allow people to discover and process information that will truly resonate with them?
There are an innumerable number of answers to these questions, but one avenue that we, as NFT art-lovers, can see is that of digitally crafted interactive learning experiences. I know, those last five words sound crazy, but just imagine a place in which we can view 3 dimensional renderings of the Mars Rover in action or see the evolution of our brain's anatomy over tens of thousands of years or practice how to perform a surgery in VR. Now imagine that you don't have to imagine it anymore because it’s here.
With the vision of certain companies, we can now craft fun, intuitive, and most importantly, memory solidifying learning experiences that will shift the way in which we will grow.
Here’s an example I stumbled upon.
I never expected to cry while watching a livestream recording of Fortnight on YouTube, but I did. The reason for the tumbling of these salty droplets was twofold; the awe-inspiring content that was on display, as well as the paradigm-shifting implication for an advancement in the way we interact with History. With my nervous system producing the chemical reactions that manifest themselves in goosebumps running down my spine, I was drawn into a world which was built to inspire and educate its spectators on the history and impact of Martin Luther King Jr. Fortnight and MLK, the funkiest collaboration since pistachio ice cream. It doesn't sound like it would work out well, but it will forever be a treasure for the world to feast on. What I’m describing is “March through Time”, a virtual experience created by TIME magazine Studios and Epic Games. It’s a digital exhibit where you can navigate through a re-imagined version of the National Mall and Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC, taking in information through an experiential type of learning. This digital space consists of galleries that display real photos and stories of the Civil Rights movement, large scale projections of Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, and replicas of locations that were significant during this time, such as the school where Ruby Bridges became the first black person to be integrated into an all-white elementary school.
You truly need to experience this for yourself, even if it’s just through a YouTube recording. It’s just amazing. And as I said, my love for this exhibit was twofold; the content was emotionally charged, but what also makes the hair on my arms stand up is the revolutionary way for us to interact with history. Instead of force-feeding factoids and unrelatable information down the throats of those who don’t find interest in learning about our past, there can now be imaginatively curated digital worlds that make History more attention grasping through experiences that you can take part and act in, not just watch from the sidelines. The possibilities are endless, which should create an excitement in those who want to inform people about the pasts in which they come from.
Fortnite’s ‘March Through Time’ Martin Luther King, Jr. Experience-Official Trailer
Imagine crafting an experience that educated people about important events such as the Holocaust, the Fall of Rome, the Legend epochs of Marco Polo. Or even more personal worlds, such as an immersive memorial for a loved one in which you want to share their life experiences with others. Just writing about these potentialities excite me for how we will digest information, whether historical, artistically, game-like, or personal. The best way to learn about history is to live through it, and now we can. I’ll let you draw up your own thoughts on what worlds you would want to create.
Check out these projects helping to push this new wave of learning:
Roblox Education:
This is NOT just your average Video Game. Last week I talked about Roblox and its influence on the metaverse, as a means to express yourself. However, they also have a large section of their company devoted to lesson plans and resources that help students, no matter their age. There are games that can teach computer programming, or projects where you build your own historical landmark. Fun Fact: More than half of all kids under the age of 16 used Roblox in 2020.
Spark AR:
This software is bridging the gap between software engineers and NCFP’s (I just made up that acronym, stands for Non-Computer Fluent People). With easily operable interfaces, people will be able to create 3D objects and bring them to real life. Possibilities are endless. Here’s a video of a doctor showing students the anatomy of the cardiovascular system.
VR for Good:
This is some incredible stuff. This resource creates virtual experiences that let you step into the shoes of someone who has schizophrenia, or of a child being held in a refugee camp. Maybe this tech will add a new layer of perspective, empathy, and solution-based problem solving to our younger generations.
Spatial:
This is a must see. You can navigate through different spaces which have a variety of 3D graphics that you can be immersed in and experience. There is a space that displays Leonardo Da Vinci’s inventions, as well as one which teaches you about Great Britain's war efforts in WWII. (At least for me, this one is best used on my phone, where you can download the app).
Stay Curious!
~NFT Art Source
Article by: Nate Galper