For years, Mixed Reality (MR) has hovered on the periphery of education – many seeing it as an exciting novelty, a glimpse into a potential future. But that future is rapidly becoming the present. For Higher Education institutions, Meta Quest devices (like the Meta Quest 3 and Meta Quest 3S), powered by Meta Horizon Managed Solutions, are no longer just intriguing gadgets; they are poised to become integral tools woven into the everyday learning experiences of students.
Immersive Learning That Delivers Results
With Mixed Reality, you can imagine students not just reading about complex cellular structures but shrinking down to explore them, or trainee surgeons practicing complex procedures in a zero-risk environment. This is the power Meta Quest brings to the classroom. It’s about immersing students in experiences that make abstract concepts tangible and bring complex ideas to life.
The data supports the impact:
- 63% of VR learners absorb information more quickly than traditional e-learners.1
- 59% complete hard skills training faster.2
- 67% report higher engagement levels in soft skills training.3
Meta Quest provides the ultimate learning edge – a safe space for students to fail, iterate, create, and develop critical skills. This includes both hard skills, by simulating complex or dangerous scenarios safely, and soft skills, by allowing learners to experience different perspectives.
Institutions are already seeing significant results:
“Across 83 Inspired Education Group schools already using immersive technology in the classroom, 90% of students reported increased engagement and interest in their lessons, along with a 25% boost in confidence in their knowledge. Additionally, 85% of teachers found virtual and mixed reality to be a valuable tool to enhance their teaching. Students also experienced a 15% improvement in their academic performance on multiple-choice assessments.”
Meta Horizon Managed Solutions: Making Immersive Learning Seamless and Secure
Adopting new technology at scale can seem daunting. That’s where Meta Horizon Managed Solutions comes in. This comprehensive hardware and software solution is specifically designed for educational environments, providing everything you need to securely and easily manage users, devices, and metaverse experiences. Crucially, two years of Meta Horizon Managed Solutions are included with every hardware purchase, with a special education offer for Device Lifetime Access available for an additional £100 per device.
Key benefits include:
- Effortless Deployment: Integrate into your existing IT workflows and pre-configure headsets for quick roll-out across campus. Compatibility with MDM providers like Ivanti and Microsoft Intune ensures smooth adoption.
- Simplified Management: An all-in-one solution to manage users (via company-managed Meta accounts), devices (with advanced controls), and access to experiences. Features like Shared Mode allow multiple users on single devices, while multicasting enables educators to view multiple students’ progress simultaneously for effective training. Identity and access management, including Single Sign-On (SSO) integration, and app management controls are also included, along with dedicated customer support.
- Robust Security: With privacy ‘baked in’ from the start, multi-layered security features, privacy controls, 2-factor authentication, remote wipe capabilities, and other essential controls, you can be confident that student data is protected. Meta Horizon Managed Solutions is ISO/IEC 27018 certified, and Managed Meta Accounts have achieved SOC 2 compliance, verified by independent audits.
- Enhanced Collaboration & Productivity: Bring students and educators closer together, wherever they are, using tools like Meta Horizon Workrooms and customisable Horizon OS avatars. Minimize distractions and boost productivity with features like virtual workspaces, tracked keyboard support, calendar integrations (Google & Outlook), Remote Desktop access to Windows PCs, and integrations with Microsoft 365 apps and Microsoft Mesh for immersive Teams meetings.
- Scalability: Train students safely and effectively at scale, leveraging the platform’s robust features.
An Ever-Expanding Universe of Content
A common concern with adopting new educational technology is the longevity and breadth of available content. Meta addresses this head-on. Powered by Meta Horizon managed solutions, you gain access to a vast and constantly growing ecosystem from over 900 world-class content providers and Independent Software Vendors (ISVs). From specialised training simulations (like Oxford Medical Simulations, UbiSim) and language learning (Immerse) to collaborative science labs (Labster, Nanome) and platforms fostering soft skills (Bodyswaps), the possibilities are continuously expanding. Your students will never run out of things to learn, explore, and engage with.
XMA: Your Partner for Hassle-Free Meta Integration
Bringing this transformative technology into your institution should be exciting, not stressful. XMA specialises in delivering hassle-free, bespoke Meta solutions tailored specifically for your classrooms and educational goals. We handle the complexities so you can focus on unlocking the potential of Mixed Reality for your students.
Watch our On-Demand Webinar all about Meta Horizon Managed Solutions in the world of Education: Reimagine the World of Education with Meta Horizon Managed Solutions
Experience the Future of Learning with XMA
Ready to see how Meta Horizon Managed Solutions can redefine learning at your institution?
Send us an email at enquiries@xma.co.uk or talk to your XMA account manager.
1-3. CCS Insight, Survey of 500 VR users in the US and UK (study commissioned by Meta for Work), 2023
Monitoring by Hotjar