Katariba Aids Learning with Educational Metaverse

From the PC internet surge in the latter part of 1990 to the current video-based learning platforms with the help of smartphones, computers and social media, the learning industry has come a long way.

We are on the cusp of a new computing era where static pages on the PC or smartphones will likely be switched by a metaverse of digital 3D spaces. The metaverse is an ‘alive’ and more advanced internet where you can interact as lifelike avatars.

Unlike a Google Meet or Zoom video call that is prescheduled and disappears when you disconnect, the metaverse is ‘always on’. This facilitates social connections with communities and has a significant impact on interactive learning as well as capacity building.

Considering the profound implications of the metaverse, Katariba, a Japanese non-profit organization, has made learning more accessible by creating a metaverse-based educational platform.

Katariba brings an innovative approach

Children who are homeschooled or are emotionally challenged often do not get a chance for institutional or structural education like in the school. Katariba has created a new resource called ‘Room-K’ to address the issue.

So far, they have enrolled 110 elementary and junior high school students who are being provided access to a virtual learning ecosystem through Room-K. Students have the freedom to choose the schedule of study and the subjects during the time of enrollment.

Every day each student can get a 45-minute class at their preferred time. This gives them a chance to learn at their own pace and offers more flexibility compared to the traditional school.

With only a few weeks into the operation, Katariba has seen 10% of their students develop enough self-esteem and confidence to return to traditional school. This inspires them to do even more for the community. As per Tomotaka Segawa, the head of Room-K

“Our aim is to create a place where children can learn. We want to increase the options for municipalities seeking to support nonattending children”

This aim aligns with Japan’s new Government Policy for Child and Family Affairs.

Closing thoughts

Learning industry experts have been seeing the use of the metaverse as a unique opportunity to leapfrog current insipid e-learning programs. Katariba’s approach is only the beginning as the metaverse offers infinite opportunities to reimagine education & learning in novel ways.