HCC’s Ambitious Vision for the ‘Metaverse’: Explained

Houston Community College leaders are hoping to trade in PowerPoint presentations and long-winded lectures for virtual reality headsets and 3D simulations.

The goal? Take all students “into the metaverse” by fall of 2025.

HCC Chancellor Margaret Ford Fisher said virtual and augmented reality technology will be used in every one of the nearly 100 programs the college offers by next fall, an ambitious goal that could dramatically reshape what instruction looks like.

The plan, which Ford Fisher unveiled in a speech she delivered at HCC’s State of The College ceremony earlier this month, is the latest move by HCC to establish itself as a pioneer of the use of artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR).

“We are entering the metaverse,” Ford Fisher said. “In fact, HCC is leading the way.”

But what does that mean, and how will it impact students’ experience inside the classroom? Here’s what we know.

The exact definition of “metaverse” is ever-evolving. However, when HCC leaders speak about it, they’re referring to a virtual world or simulation that users can immerse themselves in with the help of VR and AR technology.

In practice, this would look like HCC students learning with VR headsets — headgear that makes the user feel like they are in a different environment — or interacting as avatars inside digital spaces.

“This immersive experience transforms students from passive spectators (in classes) to active participants,” Ford Fisher said.