For my forecasting project, I have chosen to investigate the future of mobile augmented reality (AR) use in elementary education. With 5G networks coming soon, opportunities will open up for much more widespread use of mobile AR applications, bringing experiential education to a new level. Check out my project here: https://sites.google.com/view/mobilearink-6.
Hello Wendy,
Your OER was easy to navigate and digest. The benefits and possibilities of AR was great to learn because I am not well versed in this topic. I see developers now creating apps for anyone to create those AR experiences which I think is a huge benefit for improving learning experiences. However, when I explored these apps they were not easy to use and some were really basic in terms of the content it creates. Although, It should get better soon. Adobe Aero created an app for creatives to create amazing experiences in AR: https://adobe.ly/3uIR9Wh
I explored it and it’s quite a bit of a learning curve.
What does it look like for students to create their own experiences? I wonder if AR will disappear in the near future to give way to MR?
Hi Wendy
I really like your presentation of mobile AR in elementary education. This is really a great way to helping elementary school-aged students to learn abstract topics!
From my experience, AR is more applicable and feasible than VR since it is connected with real-world and real settings. AR also requires less technical support than VR or XR. Even for family learnings, mobile AR is becoming trendy. Actually, it only costs less than CAD20,000 to develop a mobile AR APP. I do believe this might be the most feasible frontier technology to be employed in schools in the coming future.
Hi Wendy,
Your mobile augmented reality project reminds me of my childhood. My father was a chemistry teacher, and we used to make some experiments and observations under a microscope. It was an exercise of patience and creativity because I could only see a few things. At that time, forty years ago, father forecasted that we would access pieces of information easily in the future, for example, to admire and analyze the Mona Lisa without necessarily going to the Louvre Museum. However, your perspective is wider and deeper. It allows interactions and an inside-out perspective. I can not even imagine how many applications a tool like yours will have for teaching in elementary education.
Hello Wendy,
I appreciate the collection of research that you have presented here as it summarizes nicely the possibilities of AR and gives visitors a quick review of the basics. Your site was easy to navigate, concise and visually appealing. One piece of constructive criticism would be that I would have liked to have seen more about the future of AR. What sorts of thoughts do you have about future possibilities with the technology? What do you imagine yourself as an educator might come up with for an AR activity that utilizes the technology in a way that has never been done before or is not yet possible to do?
When AR or VR is mentioned in school, many believe these are topics that only become a part of an information technology or computer focused class. What steps can be taken to help schools and teachers open their eyes and see that these learning tools should not be confined to any particular subject?
Hi Neill,
Thanks for your questions. You present quite a challenge, for me to dream up as-yet impossible future AR activities! I’d like to see kids building their own AR creations to share their learning, or to help others understand a concept. I feel like AR technology could become so kid-friendly that it will be easy for any child to turn the pictures in their brain into AR that they can share with others. So often I find children have trouble explaining their minds, and AR could be an amazing tool for that.
Your question about more acceptance of AR and VR by teachers of all subjects is a good one. As with technologies that are already widely available, there are teachers who are interested enough to take the time to learn how to use them effectively with their students, and those who continue to do things the way they always have. Unfortunately, I don’t imagine this is going to change. In my experience, it takes at least a few keen teachers in a school, and supportive administrators, to convince the sceptics to try new technologies. It takes teachers like us, doing great work and sharing it, to bring attention to the possibilities that are evolving every day.
Wendy,
I really enjoyed this! My A3 topic shared some similarities, namely mobile use of AR, but I focused on higher education students and MOOCs, as opposed to elementary school education. It was really cool to see how you approached a similar technology but for a different audience. Your “Possibilities” section had one example–the Vienna’s Rasthaus educational AR experience– that reminded me of an education television program I watched as a child called “Eyewitness”. The theme song/opening scene of that show was a creative journey through a museum, with dolphins leaping out of fountains and into paintings, and as a kid I had always thought it would be so cool to experience a museum in a more interactive way than just walking by, seeing a painting, and reading about it before moving on to the next one. Now that is actually possible!
I do wonder though, how you would address worries about equity and data privacy using AR devices for elementary school students? While Generation Alpha is certainly accustomed to using mobile devices and technology in a way previous generation were not, that doesn’t mean they have equal access to those technologies. Do you support a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) methodology or do you agree with Stephen Michaud that schools should be supplying mobile devices that can better supply academically relevant material while limiting distraction and data privacy issues? I
Stephen’s A3: https://blogs.ubc.ca/etec523/2021/04/04/a3-say-not-to-byod-school-provided-mobile-devices-in-the-classroom/#comment-4467
Eyewitness Theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uwarhzl76D8
Hi Dana,
Thanks for the Eyewitness theme – it looks like a lot of fun!
I agree with you that equity and data privacy are, and will continue to be, big issues of concern with mobile technology. As I commented to Erin (below), between mobile devices becoming more affordable, and support from other parties growing, equity issues will hopefully become less of a problem going forward.
Data privacy is a challenging issue that has no easy answer. While I am not opposed to a BYOD methodology, I do feel that the kind of usage I envision for mobile AR learning with elementary school students would be best served by school-provided devices. This helps student data stay in the school, and avoids sharing of information from personal devices. As Stephen touched on, it ensures every student has equal access, and provides homogeneity, making logistics for teachers much more straightforward.
Hi Wendy,
As a fellow elementary teacher, I can see my students being so engaged with AR technology in the future. Having access to well-done AR experiences would enhance learning done in schools by bringing people, places and things into your classroom that normally would be out of reach.
I like how you outlined the types of AR, the perceived benefits and some examples of some ways that it might be used. The idea of AR in the classroom sounds amazing but I am still questioning the logistics. You mention that these AR experiences can be done on any device. If that is the case, how would it be different than what teachers are already doing with their students such as virtual field trips? I would expect the future of AR to provide enhanced experiences that we currently do not have the technology for which would likely require more advanced mobile devices. Whether or not new or separate devices are necessary for these AR experiences, I am concerned about the equity in classrooms, school districts and different parts of the country. How do you think we can ensure that all students have access to the necessary technology?
Hi Erin,
Thank you for your questions. As I approached this project from the point of view of mobile learning, I thought that rather than just virtual field trips, AR could be used to add value to real field trips. Yes, virtual field trips are a great thing, but with mobile AR there is a lot of potential for place-based activities in the field.
The issue of equal access to technology is very important to me as well. Much of the literature I have read predicts that mobile devices will become more affordable, and I’m hopeful for that. At the same time I think equity issues are getting more and more public attention, which will hopefully lead to more financial support coming to those who need it, from government, businesses, or others. I read recently, for example, this article: https://marketscale.com/industries/education-technology/ces-how-5g-is-poised-to-shape-education-in-2021/ about how Verizon is making donations to low-income schools in the US for 5G development and VR technology.
My project comes from an optimistic position that all students will have equitable access to technology for mobile AR learning. I hope this becomes a reality.