4 Ways The Metaverse Will Disrupt the Way We Learn

Welcome to the next edition to the Art of Learning!

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Now let's get into this topic today!

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What is up with the Metaverse?

The Metaverse is having its 15 minutes of fame, and boy is it killing it.

You know that new "thing" that promises to disrupt every area of our lives?

Well, unlike a few other disruptors that over-promised and underdelivered, the Metaverse is here to stay.

And not only does it take up residence, but it does so boldly and is taking no prisoners.

With the Metaverse:

➡It’s do or die.

➡Live and let live.

➡Beat them or join them.

But however you look at it, the Metaverse will change the way you live, watch, play, and learn.

Because if what the experts say about the Metaverse is true - then learning, and the way we learn will be affected. 

If you want to know how Meta will change how you learn, let’s dive right in.

So What Exactly is the Metaverse and Why Should I Care?

 If you just rolled your internal eyes at yet another trending internet term, consider this: the term has been around for at least 30 years when the dystopian author Neal Stephenson wrote his novel Snow Crash.

But it wasn't until Facebook rebranded to Meta Platforms, that the metaverse conversation conveniently jumped into the maintream.

To get an idea on how much my network knew about the metaverse, I created an informal poll on LinkedIn to verify what my network knew about the Metaverse and these were the results:

The good news, based on this poll, is that more people knew about it than I thought, but again this is only a sample representation online.

Now, depending on who you ask, the definition of the Metaverse will vary since apparently, the tech guys can't come up with a solid definition, but today we'll work with this one:

The word “Metaverse” is a mix of the word “meta” which means beyond, and “universe”. The term is typically used to describe the concept of a future iteration of the internet, made up of persistent, shared, 3D virtual spaces linked into a perceived virtual universe. 

Thanks to Tris Kong from www.Smartup.com for this definition.

the metaverse is loosely defined as an extensive online world where people ineract via digital avatars. (www.wsj.com).

But don't let those definitions fool you, because the Metaverse is a fully functional digital realm that exists beyond our own physical reality.

And the cool part is anything can happen virtually on the Metaverse, but with a real immersive feel in which users can interact, play, experience, and socialize as if they were in the real world and without constraints.

So you want to learn how to change a flat tire or fly a helicopter?

Don't have a date tonight? Don't worry, the Metaverse's got ya.

Some say the metaverse is still a future vision of the internet, but it is becoming clearer and more defined.

A few examples of technologies that could transform our world and bring on the metaverse include:

• Blockchain technology, which powers trends like blockchain currencies (think Bitcoin) and NFT assets
• Virtual reality (VR)
• Augmented reality

But before you run off to book that class online, do know that there are challenges that currently affect the way the Metaverse works. Some of these challenges include:

1. Privacy and safety concerns - some experts feel that there will be a free for all on the Metaverse, where anything and anyone can do anything.

2. The initial cost of VR equipment - to purchase and set up VR equipment can be cost prohibitive, so this is a factor that must be borne in mind.

And although the Metaverse is still under construction, it won't be for long: there's too much to gain for it to stay that way because:

• AI already permeates every industry from fashion to real estate to healthcare
• the pandemic has shown that the technology can transform the workplace
• Tech companies, both new and experienced — such as Meta and Microsoft — have either purchased or are developing platforms that companies can use to train employees via metaverse-like, VR environments.

How can the Metaverse disrupt the way we learn?

Almost every industry is responding to a growing need to deliver greater innovation, faster and more effectively, at better prices.

Darren Jukes Head of Industrial Manufacturing, PwC UK

I couldn't have said it much better myself Darren.

So then how will employee training and development be impacted? Let's look at 4 beautiful ways.

1. Build a Better Employee Onboarding Experience

It's been said that only 3% of content on the internet is interactive - and almost everything that we consume, is passive.

Now think of your new hire's journey. Interactive content means that the prospective's employees will be able to explore and discover who you are as an employer, interact with the team they hope to join all before setting foot in your building.

Or imagine that person being transported to an international office, engaging one-on-one with fellow colleagues, all without hopping on a plane.

Such an experience would be sure to help give this person a realistic look at the life they could build there.

The ultimate Show and Tell.

2. Training in Another Dimension

According to the Atlantic, the Metaverse will be used to teach us new skills we will need for our jobs. And as training is an important aspect of company life. One estimate suggests that the average employee engages in 35 hr of training a year. Unsurprisingly, this makes training a key target for companies developing metaverse capabilities.

Imagine allowing a learner to interact with a machine or other equipment instead of just telling them about it. Or being immersed in a room with the tech to dissect a heart in real-life conditions?

So much to learn!

Ed Beltran, CEO of Fierce Conversations, a global leadership development company said in a recent interview:

"Metaverse mixed-reality learning experiences represent disruptive innovation that can significantly optimize training, development, and real learning. With companies increasingly moving to remote or hybrid workplace environments, executives not only appreciate the need for, but are wholeheartedly embracing, new approaches to train, sustain, and develop their teams in order to stay agile and competitive.”

So much to do in so little time.

3. Improve the Employee Experience

In a recent study by PwC, they found that VR learners were:

• Trained four times faster than classroom learners
• 275% more confident in their skills
• 3.75 times more emotionally connected to content than classroom learners
• Four times more focused than their traditional eLearning peers

Why?

Because they were more confident in applying what they learned and they were more emotionally connected to the content.

Organizations have successfully used simulations to train professionals in certain careers for decades, the Metaverse will make it easier and more convenient.

And all the above factors are key to helping your employees enjoy the training so much that they happily apply what they learned.

Some businesses have even begun to implement social and learning interactions in virtual environments - like the new water cooler at work - where you can be in your own space and in your own time.

4. Help employees develop in their personal career

Consumers have come to expect personalized, engaging experiences in their day-to-day lives and which has set the standard for learning solutions. I exepct that any meta-based work would match these virtual expereinces that many people have come to expect of the technology they consume.

This goes likewise for those talent who wish to upskill their careers. The only way for the netavers to succeed is if it is deployed as a tool for employee engagement and experiences, not for supervision and control.

(Our eyes are on you HR).

Last year, when Lenovo surveyed 7500 employees about their use of the metaverse the results were a bit surprising. About 44% said they were prepared to work in the metaverse, while another 20% percent said they were unwilling to work with the technology, 21% percent remained neutral and 15% were not sure.

Even though 36% did not give definitive responses, it's more than likely that with proper training and education they could find themselves involved in the world of work on the metaverse.

If we're honest, we can see how the pandemic changed the way a lot of things were done and paved the way for the metaverse to emerge as a viable tool in the workplace.

Should you be concerned with the metaverse?

Yes, you should be.

Although the full-fledged metaverse may not be ready anytime soon, the components that are being built have already begun to affect our everyday lives.

If you think TikTok, Facebook and Twitter are Omnipresent, hold on for the ride because the Metaverse is coming.

With the rise of remote and hybrid options, the world of work is changing expectations around why, where and how people work and the metaverse is an exciting opportunity for  companies to evolve with the changing times.  Remote work is here to stay and the virtual world offers an abundance of creative directions one can take.

When you think about the possibilities of things that can happen in the metaverse don't get alarmed, but arm yourself with the information and prepare for the revolution that's about to happen.

The virtual world will become a reality as companies make equipment more affordable and the benefits will outweigh the negative at the end of the day.

What do you think about the Metaverse? Share your thoughts on how you think the metaverse will impact learning in the years to come.

Glossary:

1. Augmented Reality (AR):a technology that superimposes a computer-generated image on a user's view of the real world, thus providing a composite view.
2. Virtual Reality (VR): the computer-generated simulation of a three-dimensional image or environment that can be interacted with in a seemingly real or physical way by a person using special electronic equipment, such as a helmet with a screen inside or gloves fitted with sensors.

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