Digital escalation to the Metaverse

However, the unique challenges of the education sector witnessed unforeseen issues. Concerns around privacy were raised from accidental capturing of background events and pupils feeling awkward on camera. Consequently, educators delivered many lessons in the "Dark" with all student cameras switched off, culminating in an unsatisfactory learning experience for the pupils and teachers. Teachers witnessed focus and attention issues due to surrounding screen notifications and everyday distractions at home. In addition, a feeling of disconnection between the pupils has been prominent. Everyone wants schools to resume as usual because children learn best within a social setting, and whilst this event was successful for some, it was not for all. However, we also know this event may not be unique, unfortunately. So how could this critical digital experience evolve to work better next time? Or even be a better way of doing parts of how we teach now, especially when we need to collaborate. The Metaverse offers a possible solution to these problems with its alternate digital reality built in the secure and encrypted environment of the blockchain. Here people socialise, work and play, forming virtual cities, neighbourhoods and economies that mimic many aspects of real life. However, these worlds built for (But not limited by) Virtual Reality offer some interesting subtle differences from screen and camera to communicate.

To begin with, it is your avatar others see, not your camera recording. With a VR headset, you are entirely immersed (Full peripheral vision and sound) in any given space. There are no distractions or privacy issues from cameras; teachers can see which avatar is looking at them and paying attention, like in a real classroom. We suggest this holds some exciting capabilities that education should investigate.