augmented-reality

Augmented reality snags a coveted spot in classrooms


Increased accessibility, applications mean augmented reality is no longer a pipe dream

augmented-reality
Courtesy of The Teaching Palette.

A student holds a tablet in front of a series of famous paintings. On each painting, something comes to life–sounds, animation, or a pop-up fact linking the painting to historical events.

The scene is reminiscent of a Harry Potter movie, but this isn’t magic. This is augmented reality–which, due in part to an increase in access to mobile devices and augmented reality apps, is becoming increasingly common in K-12 classrooms.

Augmented reality uses technology to blend the real world with interactive and enhanced content. When a student uses an augmented reality application while looking through a mobile device such as a tablet, the student will experience an overlay of interactive elements that enhance the “normal” scene. For instance, using an augmented reality app while hovering a tablet in front of a historical landmark could call up videos of important historical reenactments, important facts, or more.

(Next page: How is augmented reality used in classrooms?)Theresa McGee, a K-5 art educator in the Community Consolidated School District 181 in Burr Ridge, Ill., uses the Aurasma augmented reality app with her students.

“The beauty of augmented reality is that it’s different than just linking to a website,” McGee said. “The cool factor for augmented reality is still there. The kids think it’s amazing that they can just hold something in their hand and see that something is going on in front of their screen.”

McGee’s blog and Aurasma page are full of examples and resources for teaching with augmented reality.

For one activity, McGee wanted her students to understand the difference between thin and thick brush strokes and varying textures. So, she used Google Art Project, in which institutions across the world have contributed high-resolution images of famous works of art, to access detailed images of different paintings for her students. Students used the Aurasma app on iPads to hover over different images, call up different features and details, and learn more about the techniques used to create the paintings.

McGee, who was recently named an Apple Distinguished Educator, also uses the app to create instructional videos for different artistic techniques. When a user holds an iPad over an image, such as how to draw a cube, a video pops up and instructs the user in a certain technique. Her students love the process so much that they began creating their own instructional videos.

“Students can explore, and they really dig deeper into their own learning,” she said.

“Augmented reality adds a layer of depth as far as the instruction is concerned,” said Charles Cooper, an instructional technology teacher and government teacher at Northwest Independent School District in Texas.

Students create their own projects and become immersed and engaged in their learning without even realizing it, he said.

“They have deep discussions at high levels,” Cooper said. “I’ve seen the ‘razzle dazzle’ aspect of augmented reality, but in high school it’s just as applicable to raise the level of conversation. Augmented reality’s features can lead to something deeper.”

(Next page: Examples of augmented reality activities in high school)

During one activity, Cooper broke historical events into parts and placed augmented reality triggers around his classroom. Students walked to each trigger, watched videos and observed information that popped up, and had to place all the historical events into the correct order.

Using what is known as “app smashing,” Cooper combined Aurasma with Tourwrist, an app that lets people take and share 360-degree panoramic images. Using those images with augmented reality gives students first-person perspective of different landmarks around the world–for instance, students can feel like they’re standing right beneath the Eiffel Tower.

Cooper said augmented reality is becoming much more accessible in K-12 classrooms. In fact, augmented reality applications are available in general and specialized formats, with some focusing on science or math.

Augmented reality also is useful for professional development purposes. Cooper and colleagues Cara Carter and Jill Compher created a bulletin board around augmented reality and how it can be integrated with Bloom’s Taxonomy.

In addition to Aurasma, other augmented reality apps include:
Layar: Enhances print materials with digital experiences
colAR: Aimed at younger students and designed around coloring book pages
DAQRI: The company’s free Anatomy 4D app lets users explore the human body and its systems in great detail

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Laura Ascione
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