Engage XR launches new ed tech package with Meta, OptimaED
By Josh White
Date: Wednesday 22 Jan 2025
(Sharecast News) - Shares in Engage XR were rocketing on Wednesday, as it launched its new education-focused immersive technology package at Bett 2025 in London, marking the first showcase of its suite of virtual learning tools designed for the K12 education sector.
The AIM-traded firm said the initiative was being rolled out in collaboration with Meta and OptimaED, a US-based education experience company.
It said the package would provide educators with access to an Engage licence, offering an array of teaching software to create and share content within a controlled digital environment.
The package would enable students to explore historical events, conduct virtual science experiments, and participate in immersive field trips using curriculum-aligned content.
Key features included the 'School of AI', which offers interactions with 22 historical characters powered by generative AI, an AI character creator for personalised tutoring, and BioLab, which provides "hundreds" of interactive biology models.
Additionally, OptimaED's content library offered more than 180 hours of curriculum-focussed lessons, 1,300 learning models, and over 30 immersive field trips.
The offering also included several VR experiences, such as 'Apollo 11 VR', allowing users to experience a virtual trip to the moon; 'Titanic VR', which provides a simulated exploration of the famous shipwreck; 'Shuttle Commander', a physics-based flight simulation; and 'Titans of Space', an interactive journey through the solar system.
Engage XR said the K12 education sector had increasingly adopted immersive technology, adding that it expected demand to grow further with the introduction of Meta's Quest 3S headset.
Priced at $299, the group said it believed the lower cost of the hardware would help overcome barriers to adoption, and drive further integration of virtual teaching tools in classrooms globally.
Engage said its partnership with Meta included collaboration on the upcoming 'Meta for Education' platform, a device management service aimed at streamlining large-scale deployment of XR devices in schools.
Meanwhile, OptimaED had expanded its use of Engage licences by over 160% in the last year, with further growth expected in 2025.
"The Engage XR education package enables teachers and students to connect, collaborate, create and explore in ways that transcends traditional classroom boundaries," said chief executive officer David Whelan.
"Our education offer has been developed to offer schools and colleges a competitive option in terms of hardware and software pricing which is a key consideration for educators exploring the immersive learning space.
"We are excited about collaborating with Meta and OptimaED, and looking ahead, we anticipate significant growth opportunities in the global education sector as the price of headsets continues to fall."
At 1336 GMT, shares in Engage XR Holdings were up 167.2% at 1.84p.
Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
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