The education metaverse will hold immense potential in the educational technology domain. Backed by some of the most awe-inspiring technologies like Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, Blockchain, NFTs and Artificial Intelligence, it will offer highly immersive learning spaces leading to the democratisation of education. The metaverse promotes active and hands-on learning. Studies have proved beyond doubt that when learners engage with the subject, the retention and learning outcomes are evidently higher.

Gamified learning is a key characteristic of the modern learning system, and the metaverse offers the perfect backdrop. Kids would love to go to school to play rather than study. But in the process, if learning happens to be a default, all stand to gain!! Gamified Learning offers many perks such as intrinsic motivation, active learning, self-paced learning and the interest to go further and beyond. This helps with better academic performance and inculcates key critical life skills.

Let’s look at some published data showing how metaverse learning and immersive education technology enhances learning outcomes. The figures prove that the educational metaverse is a transformational technology.

• 5%- Learning retention from lectures

• 10%- Learning retention from reading

• 75%- Learning retention from VR Training or virtual classrooms

(National Training Library, US)

The Importance of Maths

Maths is one of the most important academic subjects from preschool to Grade 12. Additionally, it has many real-world uses. It is extremely relevant from noting the time to the class timetable to buying a pizza and candies. Maths opens up the gateway to many interesting and modern careers as well. It is the connector between related streams like science, computer science, astronomy, economy etc. It helps develop critical thinking skills, which is vital as a 21st-century skill set. STEM education is a requirement of the future workforce, and Maths is central to it.

– Reports analyse that there will be 3.5 mn jobs related to STEM careers by 2025. (idtech)

However, the other side of the story is that kids are afraid of Maths. They cannot conceptually grasp abstract learnings taught in two-dimensional approaches.

– A PISA Study reported that one out of five students in the EU did not have the required skills in maths and were low achievers.

However, studies show how visual and interactive learning can boost brain engagement. Learning maths in a simulated 3D ecosystem like the educational metaverse can boost the visual pathways, helping students to comprehend better.

How Immersive Technology will help in Learning Maths

The educational metaverse will offer an enhanced conceptual understanding of the subject matter. It is easier to represent abstract concepts in a visual medium than it is on a blackboard. Students can easily visualise and hence identify with geometrical and algebraic concepts.

For example, teaching the exponential function is much easier in a VR-led study module.  Students delve into and become a part of the story and solve the problem. The story can be centred on any real-world situation to enhance its relevancy. Students experience maths and solve problems that have real-world significance to them.

Revitalised Maths Pedagogy

Immersive environments like the educational metaverse can help to actualise best practices in maths pedagogy. Scientific studies show that students engage better with Maths when they interact and experience the subject versus listening to instructions. It enhances the theory of change and helps inculcate logical and critical thinking by identifying what activity will lead to a specific outcome. In an immersive setting that the metaverse provides, students can perceive, visualise, touch and play with mathematical objects and phenomena.

By revising the approach, it helps students to connect 3D, 2D and 1D representations of mathematical concepts for in-depth understanding and better academic performance.

In the classroom method, if a student is taught algebra, the steps would probably follow like this.

– Rote learn the definition, facts and form of say exponential equations. Practice some word problems and try and understand the context. Try and solve similar problems from the worksheets. Practice repeatedly and mechanically to ensure the correct steps.

Now in an educational metaverse, how do students learn exponential functions?

They experience it. They are immersed in a situation created specifically to help them arrive at a solution for a particular word problem. They perceive and feel and are exposed to certain simulated conditions to allow them to experience exponential growth. They seek and answer queries based on what they are experiencing. They then analyse and deduce using tactile sense and various mathematical representations to arrive at a logical conclusion.

To Conclude

The metaverse is ushering in new pedagogical models. The Metaverse School is gaining traction and inviting interest from all sectors. It allows for experiences even in a subject like Maths and promotes multimodal thinking, which results in purpose-driven learning and creates a long-term bond with subjects like Maths. Edverse is an Educational Metaverse offering unique solutions which allow students to experience learning and form a love for lifelong learning.