After posting the previous article about virtual reality, Learning in a Metaverse was done already..., there have been a few articles how virtual platforms have benefited from the pandemic. Dean Takahashi wrote in the article, The DeanBeat: Will the metaverse bring the second coming of Second Life? stated:
"Second Life has benefited from the pandemic, just like most games, as more users are coming into virtual worlds to socialize because they aren’t so sure about meeting in real life."
In a Time Magazine, 6 Lessons on the Future of the Metaverse From the Creator of Second Life, the Second Life founder, quotes Philip Rosedale
"...that the current interest in the metaverse arose from of a singularly strange moment of the pandemic in which everyone was trapped inside their homes. He says it’s much harder to get certain people excited about spending the bulk of their time in virtual worlds in normal circumstances."
There is certainly some truth in that. From an educational point of view there might be an impact too. With the additional constraints to travel and go on field trips, this form of media can be valid substitute to offer an alternative experiences. I can see a creative shift of virtual reality in education move from experimental uses to a more curated curricular application where virtual reality will be used to augment the experiential experience rather than creation, tinkering and gaming.
Products like VR Sync, Redbox VR, Google Cardboard, Vive Cosmos, and ClassVR can give teachers the ability to take students on medieval trips to explore the mechanical elements of siege weapons, trek across the Nile, crawl out of a space station, etc. Where previous VR headset technology focused on individual use, where users could choose to game, creating your own content or explore media via VR web browser. The advantage of some of these classroom focused products is they are geared for group exertions, making it easy for the teacher to curate a playlist and guide students through their virtual field trip.
With pandemic restrictions still impacting school programs, VR can be an exciting alternative option. Unlike the Office Second Life parody, there is merit to VR when our ability to visit places is diminished.
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