Meta Platforms Inc to Launch Virtual Reality Headsets for Education in Classrooms

Meta Platforms Inc, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is gearing up to bring its virtual reality headset into classrooms, allowing students as young as 13 years old to take virtual trips to ancient Rome or tour the Metropolitan Museum of Art from their Midwest classroom.

This move comes as Meta faces congressional scrutiny over the lack of protections for kids online, but the company is pushing forward with its educational product as part of its massive pivot to virtual and augmented reality. With expenses expected to reach up to US$99 billion this year, Meta is investing heavily in the technology infrastructure needed for virtual reality and artificial intelligence tools.

The technology, which has yet to be named, will allow teachers to program and manage multiple student headsets at once, giving them access to education apps on Meta’s Quest devices. Similar to Quest for Business, the product will likely be a subscription service, with plans to make it available for use in the fall.

Meta’s president of global affairs, Nick Clegg, emphasized the company’s strategic patience in moving forward with this initiative, citing demand from teachers as the driving force behind the education product. While there is limited research on the benefits of immersive virtual reality in education, early studies have shown that the technology can boost student motivation, although some have found it overwhelming for students.

If adopted in school settings, virtual reality headsets could become as popular as classroom technology like iPads and Google Chromebooks, revolutionizing the way students learn and engage with educational content. As Meta continues to expand its reach into new markets, the introduction of virtual reality into classrooms could be a game-changer for the future of education.