Meta has officially launched its ‘Meta for Education’ program, moving it out of beta and opening the doors for schools worldwide to bring Quest headsets into their classrooms alongside a suite of education-centric XR applications and software.
Originally revealed back in April, Meta for Education offers a robust solution for educators eager to integrate XR technology into their teaching. The package includes Quest headsets, subscriptions for XR management solutions tailored specifically for educational environments, and a variety of tools designed to assist administrators, teachers, and students.
Throughout its beta phase, Meta collaborated with various colleges in the United States and the United Kingdom to fine-tune the platform. Educators reported that introducing virtual and mixed reality into their teaching methods significantly boosted student engagement and helped clarify complex subjects.
Nick Clegg, Meta’s President of Global Affairs and former UK Deputy Prime Minister, often speaks about the life-changing power of immersive technology in education. He emphasizes how these tools allow students to explore scenarios that would otherwise be out of reach.
“My passion for improving children’s opportunities through education has been a constant throughout my career, both in politics and at Meta,” Clegg remarked. “Among the many advances I’ve seen at Meta, immersive technologies such as VR and AR particularly captivate me for their potential to revolutionize education. I believe Meta for Education can simplify the process of learning, practicing, and acquiring new skills for students. It offers an opportunity to create a real sense of presence among teachers and peers and to virtually journey to places or engage in experiences beyond reach. Ultimately, I hope it supports teachers in excelling at what they do best: teaching.”
Feedback from 43 Inspired Education Group schools, already implementing immersive technology with teenagers, showed that 87% of students felt more engaged and interested in their lessons. Simultaneously, 85% of educators found virtual and mixed reality to be invaluable assets that enhanced their instructional methods. Additionally, a 15% improvement was noted in students’ academic performance on multiple-choice tests.
The full rollout of this program follows several strategic alliances with prestigious institutions like Arizona State University, Imperial College London, and the University of Miami to seamlessly merge VR into their curricula.
Moreover, Meta has teamed up with VictoryXR to establish over 30 “metaversities” via the Engage XR platform, creating digital twin campuses that facilitate remote student interactions. 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 the Meta for Education initiative further, the program’s website provides detailed information and contact options for interested parties across countries such as Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, and many more.
