Educational applications of metaverse: possibilities and limitations

Abstract

This review aims to define the 4 types of the metaverse and to explain the potential and limitations of its educational applications. Themetaverse roadmap categorizes the metaverse into 4 types: augmented reality, lifelogging, mirror world, and virtual reality. An exampleof the application of augmented reality in medical education would be an augmented reality T-shirt that allows students to examine theinside of the human body as an anatomy lab. Furthermore, a research team in a hospital in Seoul developed a spinal surgery platformthat applied augmented reality technology. The potential of the metaverse as a new educational environment is suggested to be as follows: a space for new social communication; a higher degree of freedom to create and share; and the provision of new experiences andhigh immersion through virtualization. Some of its limitations may be weaker social connections and the possibility of privacy impingement; the commission of various crimes due to the virtual space and anonymity of the metaverse; and maladaptation to the real worldfor students whose identity has not been established. The metaverse is predicted to change our daily life and economy beyond therealm of games and entertainment. The metaverse has infinite potential as a new social communication space. The following futuretasks are suggested for the educational use of the metaverse: first, teachers should carefully analyze how students understand themetaverse; second, teachers should design classes for students to solve problems or perform projects cooperatively and creatively; third,educational metaverse platforms should be developed that prevent misuse of student data.