Meta has officially launched its ‘Meta for Education’ initiative after a period of beta testing, making a splash in classrooms worldwide with its Quest headsets and specialized XR educational apps. Schools and educational institutions now have the tools at their fingertips to integrate cutting-edge XR technology into their learning environments.
When Meta first revealed this initiative back in April, it was positioned as a full-fledged solution aimed at educators eager to incorporate XR tech in teaching. The package includes Quest headsets, subscriptions for XR management solutions with functionalities tailored for educational settings, and a suite of apps and tools designed specifically for administrators, teachers, and students.
During the beta phase, Meta collaborated with colleges across the US and UK to fine-tune this platform. Feedback from educators showed that both virtual and mixed reality significantly boosted student engagement and made it easier for students to grasp complex subjects.
In a statement underscoring the potential of this technology, Nick Clegg, Meta’s President of Global Affairs and former UK Deputy Prime Minister, emphasized the incredible opportunities immersive tech brings to education. He shared his career-long interest in enriching children’s educational opportunities and how XR technology might just be the key to transforming learning experiences.
Clegg noted, “Immersive technologies like virtual and augmented reality have truly captured my imagination at Meta. They hold amazing potential to transform learning by letting students acquire new skills, connect with their teachers and peers, and journey to places otherwise out of reach. Above all, I hope it empowers teachers to focus on what they do best: teach.”
Data gathered from 43 schools within the Inspired Education Group, which already utilize immersive tech in classrooms, offer promising insights. An impressive 87% of students said they were more engaged and interested in their studies, while 85% of teachers found virtual and mixed reality to be effective tools in enhancing their teaching. Furthermore, students saw a 15% improvement in their performance on multiple-choice assessments.
The transition from beta to full program status follows successful partnerships with notable institutions such as Arizona State University, Imperial College London, and the University of Miami, all of which are incorporating VR into their educational offerings.
In collaboration with VictoryXR, Meta has also rolled out more than 30 “metaversities” through the Engage XR platform, establishing digital twin campuses for students to interact remotely. These virtual campuses are now accessible to students at institutions like the University of Leeds in the UK, University of the Basque Country in Spain, and University of Hannover in Germany.
For educators interested in exploring what Meta for Education has to offer, the program’s website provides comprehensive information and application contacts across Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, and the US.
