Does the Metaverse represent the future of training?

Training is on the verge of a significant change that is starting now.
Thanks to the Metaverse, the doors are opening to a new way of using content and
training relationships for school and work.

It is said that human beings during their lives never stop learning. Curiosity, the desire to interact, to collaborate and to move about the world pushes people to constantly discover and study new things. That is why we should invest in making this transition as easy and effective as possible.

Surely technology comes to the aid of training, playing the role of intermediary between the interlocutors. We saw this with Pandemic, where through various online platforms it was possible to realize distance learning and smartworking, although with countless technical difficulties that have helped accelerate the technological development currently underway with the Metaverse.

The advent of the Metaverse, therefore, represents a new opportunity for training to evolve beyond the now obvious limitations of 2D applications. Training in the virtual world means guaranteeing students and employees effective and interactive learning, in which the norm is represented by a 360-degree enjoyment of content: this is not a euphemism, but a true description of what is already happening in the Metaverse. The three-dimensional and immersive character of this channel, in fact, allows users to live an educational experience comparable to the real one. Indeed, the study carried out by the National Training Laboratory shows that traditional training is only 5% effective compared to the 75% guaranteed by virtual training: a significant difference.

The role of digital twins is central here. These are all those elements that in the Metaverse are reproduced in minimum detail in three dimensions, and even made manipulable to varying degrees. The most important digital twin is our avatar, through which within a virtual space we can interact with teachers, classmates or co-workers, depending on the context of the meeting taking place.

For instance, in TechStar’s virtual space, Meta Presence®, MetaMeeting can be realized to training needs, where users interact using the platform’s functions. It is possible to write on the whiteboard, raise your hand and speak, use the microphone and spatial audio or megaphone to reach each participant according to their communication needs, or sit at the desk next to your favorite classmate, interacting with him or her and the media proposed by the teacher.

METAMEETING FOR TRAINING

It has been estimated by international studies that, by 2030, the virtual training market will have an extremely positive impact, with growth ranging from $180 billion to $270 billion. This is a relevant data because it shows, not only with theory but also with facts, that investments are being made in this direction.

Meta Presence®, the virtual space of TechStar, is an ideal solution for training, as through MetaMeeting, it offers the possibility of conducting:

- Remote training

- University training

- Training

Every type of training finds its place in the Metaverse. Starting with the didactics of schools, passing through universities and ending with practice for all forms of professional needs and training for work.

The greatest limitation of distance learning is the lack of interaction and socialization among students, which is reflected in a lack of attention and desire to engage and learn. The Metaverse certainly does not replace the social interaction that can be had in a real context, but through avatars, environments and features that contribute to making the virtual space immersive, it can simulate a form of contact between users like the real one.

The advantage of this platform is not only its immersiveness, but also the possibility of obtaining information about users’ behavior, reactions and interactions. This allows teachers to have greater control and supervision of the activities, while also receiving useful feedback to understand whether the teaching mode is effective or not.

We can therefore conclude that the Metaverse undoubtedly represents the future of education. It is the ideal opportunity for this sector to take a step forward in making the teaching experience better from the point of view of both the lesson presenter and those on the other side of the “desk”.