The future of learning reshaped by VR, AR and Blockchain
The world of education is changing rapidly and the introduction of new future internet technologies such as augmented reality, virtual reality and blockchain are revolutionizing the way we learn.
Education in the metaverse has become a hot topic as these advancements have allowed us to expand our learning capabilities beyond traditional classrooms and training rooms. We can now explore different topics through immersive experiences that go far beyond just reading books or listening to lectures.
Let’s take a closer look at how the future internet will transform the way we learn, from formal learning to on-the-job training.
How the Future Internet Will Improve Formal Education
Formal educational institutions are increasingly turning to the metaverse to incorporate innovative teaching methods into traditional classrooms.
Within VR environments, students can explore their surroundings, interact with objects, and even collaborate with each other on projects or simulations.
VR also allows teachers and students to explore different worlds without leaving the classroom; this could be visiting historical sites, exploring space or touring a foreign country virtually.
In immersive VR worlds, you can do things you can’t do in a classroom, like look at the Earth from space or shrink down so you can take an interactive tour of the human body. For example, Labster’s virtual lab platform allows students to experiment with more than 250 virtual lab simulations, allowing them to safely conduct a wide variety of experiments.
AR also allows us to overlay digital elements over real-world classroom objects. This can be a very useful way to bring concepts to life in the classroom. For example, Froggipedia is a hands-on AR experience that walks students through the process of studying a frog’s internal organs without any actual dissection needed.
Research indicates that learning through experience increases the quality of learning for students and improves knowledge retention by as much as 90%.
These kinds of immersive learning experiences enhance understanding of complex concepts and engage students who may not have been interested in more traditional approaches to instruction.
Transforming workplace training
Companies are also leveraging the power of the future internet to create more effective and enjoyable employee training programs.
By creating realistic simulations in a virtual environment, employers can provide employees with hands-on experience without leaving their desks or incurring additional costs associated with physical locations or materials required for training sessions. Immersive training also reduces the risk of learning scenarios that would normally be dangerous, such as fire or law enforcement training.
This type of immersive learning helps employees retain information better than traditional methods such as listening to lectures, reading written instructions, or watching training videos.
Multinational oil and gas company BP partnered with Igloo Vision to create safe virtual training for oil refinery workers. Igloo Vision built a six-metre-tall igloo at BP’s refinery in Hull, England, to allow workers to experience a detailed replica of the plant and practice critical safety tasks.
The role of Blockchain in the future of education
Blockchain technology may also impact education in the future by providing a secure and immutable way to store education data. By using blockchain, educational institutions can securely store student records, course materials, transcripts, and other important documents in an encrypted digital ledger. This ensures that only authorized personnel can access sensitive information while protecting it from malicious actors or hackers.
In the future, we may be able to store and verify our educational qualifications from different providers and institutions all in one place, eliminating the need to call different colleges to get copies of transcripts or certifications. All of our education data could be on the blockchain, and we could have something like a crypto wallet or e-passport for our credentials.
Smart contracts can also help streamline administrative processes, such as enrolling new students or transferring credits between universities.
Moving learning into the future
The metaverse and its associated technologies have a major impact on education. From augmented reality to virtual reality, these tools are revolutionizing the way we learn, both in formal education settings and workplace training environments.
As more people become familiar with the possibilities of the metaverse, it is likely that education will continue to evolve in exciting ways. We’ve already made great strides in creating more interactive and immersive learning experiences for students of all ages.
Educators, businesses, governments and technology experts will need to work together to ensure a successful transition from traditional classroom teaching methods to a hybrid form where learning takes place in shared virtual environments and physical classrooms.
Read more about these topics in my new book, The Internet of the Future: How the Metaverse, Web 3.0, and Blockchain Will Transform Business and Society. And don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter and follow me TwitterLinkedIn and YouTube for more information on the future trends in business and technology.
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