The MetaScholars Landed in the MetaVerse
This week in the MetaScholars programming, we had the opportunity to introduce the Scholars to the MetaVerse via their Meta Quest 2. Two weeks of training on the MetaVerse, Cryptonomics, Tokenomics, and World Travel led up to this moment. Our goal and mission has always been to supply students with the ability to succeed in Web 3.0, and we use the Meta Quest 2 to power this mission. We believe that your VR headset will be just as important as your computer, if not more important, in the World of tomorrow. I honestly did not understand this concept until I joined my TEAM in the VIRTUAL WORLD. Trust me, your meetings will never be the same, and your level of engagement in World will drastically shift your perspective.
Previously, during the first couple of weeks, we spoon-fed the scholars and guided them through their first experiences with Horizon Workrooms and Spatial. In the first week, we only had one instructor in World; in the second week, every team member joined in World, allowing the students to watch and see how we conducted ourselves in the Meta-Meeting environment. These environments hold MetaScholars and TMCF branding and showcase the topic of the discussion for the day. Students often write on the whiteboard, post pictures of their experiences, and have frequent conversations in World.
The extraordinary component of this experience is witnessing 20 people at any given time building and collaborating in World. We are powered by the Thurgood Marshalls College Fund initiative to motivate and shape the future of technology through education. TMCFs commitment to educational equity will reshape the landscape of Web 3 Engineers and Founders, and we believe this mission is the reason why the MetaScholars program exists today. Our third week of the curriculum reminded us of this mission. During this week, the MetaScholars joined our curriculum via the Meta-Quest.
Personally, this was my moment of clarity about the program. It was beautiful to have 15 people in World! We could teach and truly connect with the MetaScholars in a way that neither they nor we could do before that moment. As we advance in our curriculum, every scholar will be required to join via VR to increase their comfortability with VR and build upon their professional acumen in World. I’m grateful to share these moments with you all and continue to share many more.
Experiences in World
Through the experience of building alongside Vincent Hunt, Amanda Kuff, and Tamaria Kai Perry, we have witnessed the students continuously rise to the occasion every week. The experiences of the students have empowered their ideas about the MetaVerse. Students have thought about using VR to assist with Basketball shooting form or applying VR to tackle Mental Health problems by connecting people to therapists. These are just a few instances of ways our scholars want to impact society using technology.
My assumptions and thoughts have been completely altered and shifted by the community of MetaScholars. Full-on immersion in World is uniquely REAL, in a way that zoom could never connect us. I’ve had deep conversations inside Meta Quest on applying to graduate school, use-cases for blockchain technology, and NFT trends in the market today. These conversations are so lively that I almost forget that we are meeting in a virtual world. It’s the simple real-life moves like visibly seeing someone raise their hand that matter to creating a classroom environment that simulates the real-world learning experience. Meet me in Horizon Workrooms is now the common phrase used throughout our program. This is very significant, having done most of our programming over zoom for the past 2 years!
In the next section, I want to take this time to introduce one of the MetaScholars. I’ve been amazed by this student’s creativity and ability to think outside of the box — Marcellus C. Northington-Winston, a Sophomore Business Marketing major at North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University. Marcellus is a designer and creative at his core, so the MetaScholars program is the perfect introduction to learning how to build in World. He has provided a testimonial about his experience in the program. Please reach out to him directly if you have any MetaVerse design projects. I know he would be extremely interested!
Marcellus C. Northington-Winston — Testimonial
My experience within the 1st ever TMCF Metascholars cohort is nothing less than profound. As a student, entrepreneur, artist, community enthusiast, and global thinker, being able to be a part of a program geared towards empowerment, education, and thought-provoking conversations is a true testament to my journey. Additionally, being aware of the opportunities parallel to the goals and ambitions of the Metascholars program is a reminder that I am on the right track for the advancement of art, creativity, and a decentralized future world. I’ve dedicated myself to realizing my god-given talents as a creative.
Ironically enough, when I applied to the MetaScholars program, I was under the impression that I was applying for a financial scholarship. This was based on my ideas of Web 3.0 and the economic gains you often hear about in the space. I soon realized that the program was driven by deep learning and immersion. Understanding the multi-dimensional value of knowledge is more than a contemporary scholarship. I’ve been challenged to build with a diverse cohort of fellow scholars, connecting in virtual worlds such as “Spatial” and “Horizon Workrooms.” This has put me in a constant realm of learning. The growth is honestly incredible at times, knowing that the program provides new layers of insights and challenges what’s possible in this new World of Web 3.0 technologies! I am genuinely grateful for this opportunity, and I look forward to seeing how I impact the initial MetaScholars Cohort 01 and the next generation of leaders. Peace and Vibrations.