Meta's First EdX Courses Provide Skills for Building the Metaverse

EdX has launched two Spark Augmented Reality courses from Meta, developed as part of the online learning platform's partnership with Meta Immersive Learning. The goal: to "build a learning ecosystem for the metaverse and give professionals broader access to the tools and education needed to build a career in augmented reality," the companies explained in a news announcement.

"The metaverse has vast potential to change how we experience and access education, much like how various technologies came together 10 years ago to increase access to high-quality education at scale with MOOCs," said Anant Agarwal, edX founder and chief open education officer at 2U, in a statement. "This partnership will provide learning opportunities that give creators around the world greater access to the skills needed to envision and build quality and impactful learning experiences within this exciting innovation."

The new courses, Getting Started with Spark AR and Creating and Designing with Spark AR, are the first of a suite of free-to-audit courses that will help learners of all skill levels prepare to become a Certified Spark AR Creator. Participants will learn fundamental AR design principles and AR creation skills using Meta's Spark AR Studio software; courses covering more advanced Spark AR skills will be released later this year.   

Together, Getting Started with Spark AR and Creating and Designing with Spark AR make up a paid Professional Certificate program in Spark AR for Beginners. Meta is providing free access to its Spark AR Certification exam for the first 200 learners who complete the certificate program and receive a certificate of completion from edX. Those who complete the certification will also have access to the Meta Career Programs Job Board, a platform that connects people who have any Meta Certification with employers and job listings.

"We're thrilled to work with edX to help students prepare for careers in augmented reality," said Leticia Jauregui, global head of Meta Immersive Learning. "Courses in the Spark AR curriculum will empower students to become the next generation of creators with skills needed to build for the metaverse."

About the Author

Rhea Kelly is editor in chief for Campus Technology, THE Journal, and Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • rising AI-driven growth contrasted with a declining financial graph

    Report: Falling Behind in AI Adoption Comes at Substantial Cost

    A recent report from Couchbase has cautioned that enterprises that do not keep pace in AI adoption face potential financial losses, calculating an average annual impact of up to $87 million for organizations that fall behind.

  • stylized illustration of a desktop, laptop, tablet, and smartphone all displaying an orange AI icon

    Report: AI Shifting from Cloud to PCs

    AI is shifting from the cloud to PCs, offering enhanced productivity, security, and ROI. Key players like Intel, Microsoft (Copilot+ PCs), and Google (Gemini Nano) are driving this on-device AI trend, shaping a crucial hybrid future for IT.

  • laptop displaying a phishing email icon inside a browser window on the screen

    Phishing Campaign Targets ED Grant Portal

    Threat researchers at cybersecurity company BforeAI have identified a phishing campaign spoofing the U.S. Department of Education's G5 grant management portal.

  • college student working on a laptop, surrounded by icons representing campus support services

    National U Launches Student Support Hub for Non-Traditional Learners

    National University has launched a new student support hub designed to help online and working learners balance career, education, and family responsibilities as they pursue their education. Called "The Nest," the facility is positioned as a "co-learning" center that provides wraparound support services, work and study space, and access to child care.