Educational Applications of AR
Educational applications of AR can be an engaging for students of all ages. Educational AR applications are increasing in popularity and functionality. Please view the following videos and websites to explore some educational AR examples!
LookBackMaps is a mobile application that allows students and users to use a mobile device to view historical images and find information on previous historical landmarks around the world. LookBackMaps uses Google maps to determine locations around the world and links specific locations with photos and information of relevant historical detail. Students can view a historical image overlaid with a current image, read about events and infrastructure, as well as watch related videos and view related web pages. Teachers are using this application as a learning tool on field trips or inside the classroom to gain historical insights. LookBackMaps is also available online, although with less features than the app. LookBackMaps is free from the app store if you would like to try it out!
Please watch the following video on New Orleans to see how this app works!
You can also click here to view the website for LookBackMaps.
Letters Alive in the classroom helps provide engaging learning experiences for elementary students learning phonics. Students use word cards to formulate sentences that come ‘alive’ on the computer screen. This highly engaging educational application of AR provides a great opportunity for students to become engaged and active participants in their own learning.
Please watch the following video to see how Letters Alive is being incorporated into classrooms!
Museums can use AR to supplement exhibits and aid learning. Audio elements can be combined with AR devices to provide students with a highly engaging learning experience. Museums are using AR to add interactive, engaging, visual artifacts to ordinary still exhibits. Museums are making use of portable and non-potable AR devices to enhance old exhibits, or create brand new exhibits.
Please watch the following video to see how the Natural History Museum is using AR!
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/about-us/press-office/interactive-film-media/index.html
Below are additional applications of AR in education. Please feel free to watch the videos and/or visit the websites!
Peristva provides AR books that allow AR learning opportunities to students from preschool to university.
Higher level science education is using AR in the formation of medical simulation activities.
AR books can make reading interactive and engaging for young students.
AR books have the ability to add visual and audio elements not offered by traditional textbooks. Click here or here for two different examples.
Specialized fields such as architecture can use AR to further their detail ability.
Learning anatomy such as the brain from basic text can be supplemented with 3-D models and interactive games.
Visual models of molecules can be combined with verbal and textual explanations and key facts. Students can interact with the program to develop their own molecules.
View historical artifacts from anywhere.
Currently, AR is being used very effectively at many museums around the world. As people weave their way through the museum, they can use the camera on their handheld device to add additional layers of information over the exhibits. There was a dinosaur exhibit at the ROM in Toronto this summer that had a big Augmented Reality element to it. There’s an article about it in the Globe from July:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/tech-news/dinosaurs-roar-to-life-with-museums-augmented-reality-app/article4420174/
There are some AR games starting to pop up in various app stores where you play a role-playing game in the real world, but where images and information are laid overtop. They are still pretty crude. Here’s one called Parallel Kingdoms that has gotten a bunch of awards for being innovative although I have seen a lot of very negative reviews that argue that the technology isn’t quite ready yet. i will give it a shot when I get a minute and some friends who are interested:
http://www.parallelkingdom.com/
One could argue that Foursquare is an augmented reality game. You go to a real place and your device senses that you are there and you score points for showing up (or get to be the mayor of that place if you go often enough….)
Another trend, and one that has a lot of potential in the classroom is ‘geocaching’. Here’s a description from their site:
GEOCACHING is a free real-world outdoor treasure hunt. Players try to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, using a smartphone or GPS and can then share their experiences online.
http://www.geocaching.com/
And if anyone hasn’t seen it, the Google Glass demo video is pretty awesome:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRxNmu5w1UE
A Canadian scientist (from UofT) who developed his own AR glasses was assaulted by McDonald’s staff in Paris this summer when they saw that he was wearing these special glasses and assumed he was filming what was going on in the restaurant.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/story/2012/07/17/tech-mann-digital-eye-glass-assault.html
A cautionary tale for the future of AR.