Community reviews for Metaverse

I was so bummed to see this update: "We are no longer able to provide support for Metaverse, effective November 15, 2020. We plan to keep the service online, so no need to worry about your existing experiences. However, when considering starting a new project that relies on Metaverse, please be aware that you may not be able to receive support. - Luis, Dmitry, and Sean @ GoMeta". While it's still possible to work in Metaverse Studio, it seems like a good idea to look for a replacement. Other free AR creation programs compatible with Android, like Google Expeditions and Aurasma, are also shutting down. Actionbound is the best alternative I have found for free personal use, but educator licenses start at 50 euros/year.

Metaverse is strong in its ability to bring a class together through an engaging activity. Its potential use of technology, course content, online resources, and teacher input makes it a tool that can work in most classrooms. Its purpose can be that of a hook for a new unit, a check for understanding halfway through a unit, a way to gauge student interest, or simply an activity to bring variety to a lesson. While a teacher can control and create these experiences, students will also be able to make their own experiences, giving it potential to also act as a project or assessment. Metaverse does not only substitute traditional scavenger hunts but creates a new educational activity that would not have been as easily accessible as it is now. At first, the multitude of abilities and resources that Metaverse provides may be overwhelming when trying to create a simple experience, but that does not detract from its potential uses. If the creation of an experience is approached with a plan and established goals already in mind, there will be less confusion when it is time to actually create the experience. The creation of Metaverse experiences can also be time consuming, but the experiences benefit classes through enabling the creation of a variety of new activities, allowing students to apply their understanding to a unique experience, and providing opportunities for students to recall and appropriately use the content that they have learned.

As a teaching tool, Metaverse can truly increase engagement in the classroom. Giving interactive dialogue to AR characters allows students to interact with the content in ways previously unavailable. Powerful that students can also take charge of their own learning by creating and publishing their own experiences for their peers.