​

Hi learners,

Have you ever asked yourself about the next real disruption in education and learning?

I predict that ten years from now, we'll likely look back in disbelief at how we used to learn. While the past years have accelerated change, we’re still in the early days of a global learning revolution.

This newsletter edition is based on recent conversations with EdTech founders at SXSW Edu, my AppleVisionPro experience last week, and research from industry analytics, VC reports, and scenario predictions.

Since October 2021, when Zuckerberg introduced the Metaverse, learning providers have explored how learning can become more immersive and interactive. There was a lot of talk about how Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) will shape future learning environments.

What is Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR)?

I tried VR glasses with anatomy lectures from Tawian, went to VR cinemas, and explored VR/AR innovations of different education companies. Yet, while those use cases held great potential, the hardware and experience felt not fully ready.

Last week, I experienced a revelation that made me truly believe we are on the verge of a breakthrough in learning. This moment of clarity has fully convinced me of the potential for a future of learning that is active and immersive. Enter spatial computing.

What is Spatial Computing?

Spatial Computing is an umbrella term that includes Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR). It emphasizes how computers can recognize and engage with their surroundings, blending physical spaces with digital environments for more natural interactions between users and technology.

The most recent technological - I would even call it disruptive - innovation in spatial computing is Apple's recently released VisionPro. Built on the foundation of macOS, iOS, and iPadOS, visionOS enables powerful spatial experiences. The VisionPro seamlessly blends digital content with your physical space. You navigate simply by using your eyes, hands, and voice.

How could Apple's VisionPro and any other spatial computing inventions transform learning?

The immediate potential I see is active learning in reality-like environments with guided simulations. They offer new ways of delivering scenario-based learning experiences. Learners can practice in a risk-free environment close to the real scenario. Use cases include public speaking, anatomy training, architectural modeling, and much more.

Can spatial computing do what EdTech failed to do?

Analyzing the past twenty-five years of education technology, you’ll realize that EdTech often has over-promised but under-delivered.

​Massive Open Online Courses scaled traditional chalk and talk settings, and you can now learn from the best experts on MasterClass. However, despite the high-quality videos, the format remains painfully static. Even though learning science revealed the ineffectiveness of passive content consumption, it often remains a predominant paradigm in EdTech.

Education technology has yet to transform how we learn. And a true disruption of this paradigm should include fully immersive, active, and experiential learning experiences. Spatial computing could enable such unpredictable, real-life scenarios by combining augmented, virtual, and mixed reality within a shared, explorable, and adaptive reality.

Dr. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution explains: “I don’t think just porting material to some new format is the way to go. I think what we need to do is explore what is the gift that this new platform can offer us.”

To significantly improve how we learn, spatial computing needs to offer experiences that go beyond immersion. Here’s what I think this could look like:

Experiential learning with tools like the VisionPro should evolve beyond passive activities like watching 3D movies or virtual field trips. I envision a future where learners engage in interactive, virtual environments, where their actions and decisions dynamically alter their experiences and provide immediate feedback.

Through deliberate and repeated practice opportunities and feedback loops, learners could benefit from more engagement, confidence, and application. How do you think spatial computing could transform learning? Reply to this email with your thoughts.

Featured Articles

Here's a collection of articles I wrote or that I enjoyed reading. All links to my articles are friend links, so you can read them without having a Medium subscription.

🧠 Continuous learning framework - by Jarek Orzel

💡 How to Overcome the Mental Bias that Keeps You Running Out of Time - Explore practical steps to avoid overcommitment and have more time for things that matter the most. (4 min by Eva Keiffenheim)

🌸 You Can Skip Gifting Me Flowers for Women’s Day — Do This Instead - My take on better actions on Women's Day - (6 min by Eva Keiffenheim)

Learning Nuggets

✨ How to remember anything you want forever?

I'm writing a book to help you remember anything you want forever, blending learning science with practical strategies. If you want the book to be tailored to your needs and a 50% discount once it’s published, take a minute to complete this short survey​

✨ TikTok for Learning - Where millions of students learn together

Whether you have children in secondary education or are a lifelong learner wanting to refresh what you learned in school - find thousands of study notes on literally every subject on Knowunity. With 9 million active users on the app, Knowunity is Europe's fastest growing platform for students. Just 5 years young, the company is aiming to build the global platform for every pupil around the world. The app is available in German, French, Spanish, English, Polish and Italian.