Meta has rolled out its ‘Meta for Education’ initiative to schools and educational institutions globally, officially opening the doors to classrooms filled with Quest headsets and a range of XR applications designed specifically for educational purposes.
First revealed last April, this initiative offers educators a robust package for incorporating XR technology into their teaching. It features Quest headsets, XR management solutions with classroom-optimized capabilities, and a suite of tools and applications tailored for administrators, teachers, and students.
Throughout its beta phase, Meta collaborated with colleges in the United States and the UK to fine-tune the platform, gathering feedback that virtual and mixed reality significantly boosted student engagement and helped demystify complex subjects.
Nick Clegg, Meta’s President of Global Affairs and a former UK Deputy Prime Minister, speaks enthusiastically about the incredible potential of immersive technologies in education. These tools let students explore scenarios they might never access otherwise.
Clegg shares, “Throughout my time in politics and now in technology, improving educational opportunities for young people has been a passion. The leap in immersive technology at Meta, with VR and AR, has truly sparked my interest because of its capacity to revolutionize learning. With Meta for Education, I aim to simplify how students acquire new skills, connect with teachers and peers, and virtually step into places or experiences they’d never otherwise see. Above all, I hope it supports teachers in what they excel at: teaching.”
Following trials with the Inspired Education Group, which uses immersive technology with teens, Meta reports impressive results: 87% of students felt more engaged in their studies, and 85% of teachers considered virtual and mixed reality valuable teaching aids. Moreover, students scored 15% better in multiple-choice assessments after incorporating this technology.
After several partnerships, including those with Arizona State University, Imperial College London, and the University of Miami, aiming to weave VR into their educational frameworks, the program is now ready for a broader release.
Together with VictoryXR, Meta has developed more than 30 “metaversities” using the Engage XR platform to create digital replicas of real campuses, encouraging remote student interaction. Institutions like The University of Leeds in the UK, University of the Basque Country in Spain, and University of Hannover in Germany now offer these digital campuses.
For educators eager to dive into Meta for Education, the program’s website provides detailed information and a contact point for interested parties across countries such as Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, and many more.
