Designing a Metaverse for an Immersive Learning Experience

This paper shares preliminary findings of a pilot project to study the potential of the metaverse as an option for course delivery in an immersive learning environment. As part of a first-year seminar course on the metaverse, the authors identified and applied design principles for building an effective immersive learning space to create a virtual space that mirrored a popular campus technology learning center. After learning about the metaverse throughout the course, students attended a class session online to experience this virtual environment, and then reflected on their own interest in and perceived value of immersive learning spaces. Results from a student survey suggest that while students are skeptical about their own continued involvement with the metaverse after the course is over, many recognize potential of the metaverse as a social platform that fosters engagement and collaboration.