The COVID-19 pandemic was a pivotal moment for the workplace. For the first time, large numbers of people were thrust into remote work environments. As COVID-19 turned everything from teaching positions to metaverse jobs remote, it changed the way we think about work.
Back in 2020, many people believed that once the pandemic was over, offices would reopen and things would go back to “business as usual,” encouraged by many companies who pledged to return to offices once the pandemic was over.
However, that never happened. Instead, the pandemic has pushed even more people into remote work, with no sign of that trend reversing. The reasons are evident.
Remote work offers a number of advantages, both for employees and employers. Employees enjoy greater flexibility and a better work-life balance, while employers save on costs such as office rent and utilities.
In addition, remote work makes it easier to attract top talent, since workers are no longer constrained by location. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the workplace forever, and remote work is here to stay.
In this article, we will discuss what this means for the next generation of students and how educators can prepare classrooms for a three-dimensional digital world: the metaverse.
The metaverse is a term that describes a network of 3D, online spaces. It is made up of avatars, or digital representations of users, who can interact with each other in a variety of ways.
The metaverse can be used for socializing, gaming, and even virtual commerce. It has even found several compelling use cases in the VR classroom, where it can be used to supplement or even replace traditional learning environments.
And as the metaverse continues to grow in popularity, there is an increasing demand for metaverse jobs.
The metaverse is a perfect example of how the pandemic has changed the workplace. The metaverse is a virtual world that people can access from anywhere in the world. And while it has been around for years, the pandemic has spurred its growth.
There are several reasons for this:
And since the metaverse is constantly evolving, there are always new opportunities for people to explore. This makes it an exciting and dynamic place to work.
The next generation of children is growing up with technology that allows them to explore virtual worlds however they want. This immersive environment provides a sense of freedom and discovery that is not always possible in the real world.
As such, children are becoming attached to the metaverse in the same way previous generations were attached to gaming consoles and iPods. The key difference is that, unlike these devices, the metaverse has infinite growth potential. This gives children an endless supply of new experiences to explore.
With VR games for kids growing in popularity and new worlds of social interaction at their fingertips, many children will find meaning in the metaverse and develop a fondness for it that will last a lifetime.
The children of today aren't going to grow up wishing to join the same stereotypical professions that our parents and grandparents did. Influenced by Twitch streamers, YouTubers, and Instagram celebrities, today's children know that there are endless possibilities for what they can do with their lives.
They will want jobs that are creative and innovative. They will want jobs that allow them to explore their passions.
And the metaverse is the perfect place for them to do just that.
Aspiring musicians, artists, content creators, marketers, salespeople, developers, and even writers can find metaverse jobs that allow them to explore their passions and make a living.
The metaverse is one of the many factors shifting the way we think about work, and there are now metaverse remote jobs available in a variety of industries:
For children with a creative flair, there is a growing demand for metaverse designers. Metaverse design is a growing field that offers many opportunities for creativity and self-expression. For children, it can be a great way to learn about 3D design and digital worlds.
Additionally, many businesses are now looking for metaverse designers to create virtual environments for their employees. These environments can be used for training, collaboration, or even for marketing purposes.
And children can pursue their creative passion across several different industries:
And design is one of the most in-demand metaverse skills that businesses are looking for.
To become a metaverse designer, children need to be proficient in 3D modeling and animation software. Some of the most popular software used in metaverse design include:
If children in your classroom are interested in pursuing a career in metaverse design, consider introducing training in these software programs.
Virtual showrooms already exist and are becoming increasingly popular. And with more and more brands selling their products online, sales in the metaverse will continue to grow. Gartner predicts that by 2026, 25% of people will spend at least one hour per day in the metaverse.
As a result, there will be a growing demand for metaverse sales and customer success representatives. These customer-facing roles will be paramount for the customer experience, helping shoppers find the right products and providing them with a great metaverse shopping experience.
For example, a metaverse sales representative at an online retail boutique could work in a virtual showroom, helping shoppers find the right product and providing them with information about the product.
To be successful in these roles, children will need to be outgoing and have excellent communication skills. They should also be comfortable working with different types of people, as they may be interacting with customers from all over the world.
Those who are interested in pursuing roles in sales or customer success should focus on developing their interpersonal skills while acquainting themselves with the metaverse. They can do this by taking classes, participating in extracurricular activities, such as virtual reality summer camps.
As the metaverse becomes more popular, businesses are starting to hold virtual events. These events can be anything from product launches to conferences and trade shows. And as metaverse events become more common, there will be a growing demand for event planners and coordinators.
For example, a metaverse event for a product launch could include a virtual press conference, product demonstrations, and a Q&A session with the product team.
If a child is organized, creative, and enjoys working with people, a career in event planning may be perfect for them.
Strong marketing skills will also be essential for those interested in pursuing a career in metaverse event planning or coordination. They will need to be able to market the event to the right audience and generate interest.
To get children involved in metaverse event planning, educators can host virtual field trips or virtual conferences. These types of events will give children a taste of what it’s like to plan and coordinate a metaverse event.
The "creator economy" is a term used to describe the growing trend of content creators making a living off of their online content. And as more and more content creators amass fame and wealth, young children will be inspired to create their own content.
There are many different types of content that children can create, including:
In the metaverse, these types of content are taken a step further–they can be interactive and immersive. For example, a lifestyle vlogger could take their viewers on a virtual tour of their metaverse home.
Similarly, a thought leader could invite viewers to a live Ted Talk, making them feel as if they are right there in the room with the speaker.
To be a successful content creator, children not only need to be creative but also need to be able to market their content. They should also be comfortable using different types of technology, such as video editing software and social media platforms.
In order to enable developing kids to create content, educators can provide them with the tools and resources they need. For example, they can provide children access to video cameras and editing software. They can also create opportunities for children to showcase their content, such as hosting a virtual film festival.
Software developers are some of the most in-demand professionals across every industry. And as virtual, augmented, and mixed reality become more prevalent, there will be an increased demand for VR, AR, and XR software developers.
Not every platform that offers what we consider to be metaverse experiences operates in the 3D space, either. Roblox and Decentraland, for example, are 2D metaverses. So, a student proficient in 2D game development could have a competitive advantage when securing a job as a metaverse software developer.
And with tens of millions of users between those two platforms alone, the potential for metaverse software developers is significant.
Virtual reality software development will become a necessity for companies in just about every industry. Hospitals will need VR software developers to create training simulations for medical students. And architects will need VR software developers to create virtual models of their buildings.
While many public schools still do not offer coding classes, there are several online career and technical education resources and programs that can teach children how to code. Once they have learned the basics, they can begin developing their own VR, AR, and XR experiences.
There are also a number of hackathons and competitions specifically for VR, AR, and XR that children can participate in. These types of events can help children develop their skills and showcase their work to potential employers.
Social emotional learning is important for children regardless, but it’s especially important for those who want to pursue careers in the metaverse. That’s because the metaverse is still a new and uncharted territory, which means that there are no real-world precedents for how to ethically navigate it.
Because the metaverse is in its early stages, many people will need to take on roles that minimize the risk of misuse, harm, and negative consequences that could arise from metaverse activity.
These individuals will have the responsibility of making sure that metaverse applications within organizations are inclusive, safe, and secure.
When taking students through virtual social-emotional learning activities, educators can talk about certain ethical dilemmas that people will face as the world becomes more technology-driven.
Remote metaverse jobs are becoming more and more popular, but many children are not aware of the opportunities that exist. As the use of metaverse technology in the workplace increases, it is educators' responsibility to show children that these types of metaverse careers are a viable option.
There are a number of ways that educators can make children aware of remote metaverse job opportunities, including:
In order to make students aware of the potential for careers in the metaverse, one of the easiest things educators can do is incorporate job information into the lesson plans.
There are a few ways to do this. First, educators can provide students with an overview of how metaverse technology is being used in different industries. This can be done through lectures, readings, and videos. It can even be done in the metaverse itself through a VR field trip to a mixed reality studio.
In the same way that educators provide children with information about traditional job opportunities, they should also provide information about metaverse job opportunities. For example, an elementary school educator could discuss how metaverse technology is being used in the field of medicine.
Middle school and high school educators can also create assignments that require students to research and report on specific uses of metaverse technology in the workplace.
High-school educators can help teens find metaverse mentors. These are people who work in the metaverse and can provide insight into what it is like to have a career in the metaverse.
Schools and educators can host metaverse career days where children can virtually meet and talk with people who work in the metaverse. These events can be held in the metaverse or in a traditional classroom setting.
Mentorship programs are also a great way for educators to connect children with metaverse professionals. Through these programs, children can shadow metaverse professionals and learn about their day-to-day work.
There is no better way to introduce students to metaverse technology than to allow them to experience it hands-on. 360º virtual field trips can provide students with an immersive look at how metaverse technology works.
When using VR in school for a lesson, educators may also discuss metaverse technology as a whole to help them conceptualize the technology that they are experiencing.
Besides experiential learning, taking children on virtual field trips can also be a great way to introduce them to potential career pathways. For example, a middle school teacher could take her students on a virtual field trip that details life as an aerospace engineer or how entrepreneurs are pioneering the green revolution.
When taking students through these virtual field trips, educators can discuss different technologies that will influence those areas–and how the metaverse fits into the picture.
With Kai XR, students can explore metaverse technology without having to leave the classroom. By leveraging 360º video and VR, Kai XR can provide an immersive experience that is both entertaining and informative.
Kai XR also offers a number of resources for programs and schools, including metaverse classrooms, live virtual instruction, lesson plans, and virtual field trips. These resources can be used to introduce metaverse technology to children in a way that is fun and engaging.
Additionally, Kai XR features professional development for educators, so they can learn how to use metaverse technology in the classroom effectively and empower their students to dream big.
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There’s so much for you and your students to explore. All you need to do is start. Try out Kai XR on your smart device, tablet, VR headset, or laptop. We’ll be your guide!
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