A Collaborative Metaverse based A-La-Carte Framework for Tertiary Education (CO-MATE).

Area of Science:

• Educational Technology
• Metaverse Applications
• Higher Education Frameworks

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the need for innovative digital learning solutions in tertiary education.
• Existing educational frameworks often lack the flexibility to integrate rapidly evolving technologies.
• The integration of immersive technologies in education remains a developing area.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose CO-MATE, a novel Collaborative Metaverse-based A-La-Carte Framework for Tertiary Education.
• To outline a four-layered architectural approach for the CO-MATE framework.
• To explore the potential of emerging technologies in creating automated, immersive learning environments.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a systematic mapping study of pre- and post-COVID literature on emerging technologies in education.
• Conceptualized a four-layered architectural framework for the CO-MATE system.
• Analyzed core attributes and component offerings for an educational metaverse.

Main Results:

• The CO-MATE framework is designed as a technologically driven educational metaverse.
• It employs a loosely coupled building block approach for platform designers, enabling an a-la-carte model.
• The framework supports automated and immersive learning experiences.

Conclusions:

• CO-MATE provides a futuristic and adaptable framework for tertiary education leveraging metaverse technologies.
• The proposed architecture and a-la-carte model facilitate the integration of diverse technological components.
• The framework holds significant potential for enhancing immersive and automated learning experiences in higher education.