Exploring the educational potential of metaverse platforms: a comparative analysis

This study conducted a comparative analysis of thirteen metaverse platforms to evaluate their educational potential based on five criteria: avatar customization, browser accessibility, video interaction, external tool integration and environment customization. The research revealed that only the Gather Town platform fully met the requirements for an interactive, accessible, and personalized learning environment. The platforms were categorized into three main categories: gaming, socialization, and corporate use, highlighting the diverse applications of the metaverse. The article emphasizes how this technology can transform education by offering immersive, collaborative experiences tailored to the specific needs of students and institutions. Additionally, it highlights the role of the metaverse in democratizing access to high-quality educational resources and overcoming physical limitations. As future work, the study proposes investigating specific methodologies to integrate these platforms into educational curricula and exploring emerging technologies that complement the functionalities of the metaverse.