Augmented Reality for Education
Decades ago, you could only learn about the human skeletal system through video, images or a realistic anatomical model. Nowadays, you can show a hyper-realistic 3D viewing of the human body skeleton in your classroom. This is just one of the many ways augmented reality has changed the way we teach and learn.
Let's take a deep dive into augmented reality in education and the different examples of practical applications. We'll cover:
- What is augmented reality in education?
- What are the benefits of augmented reality in education?
- Application of augmented reality for education
- Augmented reality vs. Virtual reality
- Practical tips on how to incorporate augmented reality in the classroom
- Augmented Reality can't replace fundamental learning experiences
- FAQs
What is augmented reality in education?
Augmented Reality in Education (AR) means adding digital technologies to the physical classroom to help learners understand real-life concepts better. AR doesn't substitute for reality, more, it aids students and instructors visualize otherwise abstract and obscure ideas.
Imagine that you're educating students on the solar system. Instead of simply discussing it, you get the holographic projector. This projector could show the sun as well as all the planets orbiting around it in 3D in the middle of your class. The planets can be made larger or smaller, rotate them around, and even close in on details.
The students can see the dimensions and arrangements of solar systems in a way that's much more engaging and deep than conventional drawings or diagrams. Instead of reading books, browsing through pictures, or watching videos, students can interact with the solar system live and actually see how everything fits together.
What are the advantages of augmented reality in education?
We'll look at a few benefits of incorporating Augmented Reality into your educational environment.
It increases accessibility for students in the classroom.
Take our solar system class for instance. Learn how to use AR to teach different styles of learning:
- Visual learners can use an AR application that displays an enlarged model that depicts the solar system within the classroom. Visual learners will be able to view all the planets that orbit the sun, observe their size in relation to each the other, and witness things like eclipses or planet rotations.
- Auditory learners: Talk about the most important details about the planets -- like its unique characteristics and its composition during the time that the AR model is running.
- Readers : Provide supplementary texts or reading overlays within the app, including planet-related information as well as trivial discoveries.
- Students who use kinesthetics: Allow the kinesthetic learners interact with the virtual solar system using touch gestures or motion controls. Students can, for instance "grab" the planets and rotate them around, and adjust their orbits.
It creates an inclusive learning environment, which permits students to study at their own pace and in a manner that is most appropriate to their personal needs. Every student will be included regardless of what they study.
It assists students in understanding difficult concepts
If you've never seen an onion and someone spent long hours describing what it looked like but you may not know what that signifies. A picture but, it makes it more comprehensible.
Augmented reality is even better. Not only can learners visualize difficult-to-understand concepts, but they can also actively interact with them. For example, they can look into the virtual onion to observe the texture in detail. And they can also "peel off" every layer in order to view the onion's internal structure.
When they finish the class, students will know what an onion is and can explain the concept as clearly as someone who has seen an actual onion.
Application of augmented reality for education
After you've got an in-depth understanding of the concept of AR and its benefits let's take a look at some instances of how to incorporate AR into classrooms.
AR within STEM
The HTML0 format has two major AR use cases for STEM education: inquiry-based simulation, and problem-based simulation.
Inquiry-based simulation
It is done by the use of AR apps to visualize abstract concepts and situations to make them easier to explore and study. It provides students with practical experience in complicated subjects.
This GeoGebra Mathematics simulator AR app is an excellent example. It allows students to build interactive 3D models from geometric shapes when they work on problems. It allows them to zoom in on different areas of the shape, and change its design according to the equation.
The students can explore mathematical concepts in a hands-on method.
Simulation based on a problem
Use AR to create real-life scenarios that require problem-solving -- whether as a group or within a self-directed setting.
One good model can be found in AR Circuit. AR Circuit is an interactive simulation that allows students to connect circuit boards online. They can experiment with different configurations, conductors, and settings to see how these changes affect the internal workings of an electricity circuit.
On the basis of what motivated the application, Harry Banda said AR Circuit was born from the desire to fill the technology gap in Zambian schools, specifically for Physics and Chemistry classes.
AR and History and Art
The largest application of Augmented Reality in the field of history is immersive learning. It helps you to recreate the past to make learning more enjoyable.
One application that performs very well at this one app that does this very well Living History, which is most often used by museums to provide self-guided tours. The app evokes the spectre of characters from the past that recreate exactly what happened in the past.
Imagine you're in the World War 1 section of the museum. Instead of simply looking at notes and pictures the museum is a walkthrough of ghostly silhouettes of soldiers fighting and through the scenery and trenches that were the battlefield.
Other uses of AR in art and history are:
- Digital graffiti allows students to make beautiful graffiti, without ruining walls. There are many mobile apps for this, including Vandaleak and Graffiti Go.
- Virtual 3D art creation which permits students to transform paintings and sketches to 3D art pieces that they can interact with. Imagine a sketch of the outline of a house. They can change it into a realistic housing structure and place the structure anywhere using FeelTheArt.
- Host AR art exhibitions in the classroom. Students can utilize Artivive to make stunning AR art for no cost.
AR in the field of medicine
Augmented reality can be used to aid in cases-based simulations during medical education. The case-based simulations are designed to present participants with a complicated situation that resembles a realistic circumstance they may encounter in their professional lives. It helps them apply their knowledge in practice and to develop fundamental competencies to be useful in working in the real world.
An excellent example is AccuVein, a vein visualization technology. AccuVein makes use of augmented reality technology to show images of the veins in the patient's body onto the skin. This helps doctors locate veins efficiently and with greater accuracy.
Students in medical school may make use of the AccuVein device to learn how to identify veins in a live patient. AccuVein gives real-time feedback to help students increase their precision and accuracy.
Augmented reality vs. virtual reality
Augmented reality and virtual reality are often used interchangeably, but the two terms mean something different. Here's a quick comparison table showing how these technologies pit against each other.
| Augmented Reality | Virtual Reality | |
| Definition | Integrates digital information with reality | Allows users to experience a completely virtual environment |
| Interaction with the real world | Inlays digital content on actual world | Replacing the real world with a virtual one |
| Immersion level | Partial Immersion | Full immersion |
| Cost | Affordable | Pricey |
| Devices | tablets, smartphones Smart glasses, tablets | Head-mounted displays (HMDs) VR headsets, Head-mounted displays |
| Examples | Virtual 3D models | VR simulators |
Let's look at a few of these distinctions more thoroughly.
Definition
Augmented Reality overlays digital content over the reality so that people can comprehend it more clearly. Virtual reality, however does not communicate with reality. Instead, it immerses the learner in an entirely digital universe.
Examples
Imagine that you're providing a course on the human body. Through VR, you'll be able to make an experience that is immersive, where the learners are transported within the human body to explore its inner functioning. Students can engage with various organs, zoom to see details, and observe how every organ functions in real-time. This creates a very exciting and interesting environment for the learners to explore.
On the other hand, with AR, you can look up a text book page on the human heart. You can then see the 3D image of the heart at the right at the top. The students can engage with the model and examine its various parts and see how it functions in relation to the other organs. The students can still see the physical textbook underneath this, which provides a mixed learning environment.
Cost
Augmented reality is generally cheaper than virtual reality as it uses smaller hardware.
With AR, you typically only need a tablet or phone along with an AR application to begin. Most AR apps designed for educators come with an initial free trial that include the paid plans starting at just $100.
However VR requires a headset that can cost hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars. As an example, Meta's Quest 3 VR headset costs about $500, while the Apple Vision Pro headset costs $3,499. There is also the possibility of having to invest in a powerful computer to operate this VR software.
Practical tips for implementing Augmented Reality in the classroom
Keep the following in mind when you are using Augmented Reality to enhance the teaching and learning.
Connect the technology with educational goals
It doesn't matter how sophisticated the AR program or application is. If it's not assisting you to achieve your goals in learning It's probably not the appropriate tool.
Create three to five tasks you'd like your students to to do at the conclusion of your course. Say you're teaching a class regarding the solar system. your learning objectives might look like this:
- Students should understand the composition of the solar system.
- Students must be able distinguish the orbits and the rotation
- Students must be able to recognize the planets in our galaxy
Once you've listed these questions, the next step is, "What AR tools can help me accomplish these objectives?" For example, you might use a virtual projector for displaying realistic pictures of our solar system.
Consider your budget
Discover affordable AR tools that are easy to use and maintain. What you don't want is to expose students to augmented reality only to quit later because you can't maintain or upgrade the equipment.
There are numerous free and affordable AR tools that can be used for various educational use cases (and we've listed a few in this post. Geogebra is a good example in this article. You can find others by doing a quick Google search of the free AR applications.
Carry the learners along
Also, you should consider the level of knowledge that learners have. If they have no idea about how AR devices work, it's best to start with simple AR applications such as 3D mobile applications. You can introduce more complex applications as they become more knowledgeable about the AR technology.
Augmented reality isn't a substitute for basic learning experiences
Imagine augmented reality as the frosting on top of the cake. Augmented reality can improve the learning experience but cannot fix broken systems, such as a lack of well-defined learning objectives, poor training, or inadequate feedback.
Pay attention to these fundamental education requirements first. When you've fulfilled the requirements, you may use augmented reality in order to create more engaging experiences to students.
Augmented reality FAQs
Get answers to commonly sought-after questions regarding augmented reality in education.
How can I begin to implement AR in my classroom?
To begin, determine how AR can be integrated into your current classroom setup. After that, look into budget-friendly AR applications and devices. As an example, you can start by using inexpensive AR software that works on your smartphone before investing in more expensive hardware.
In the next step, slowly introduce your students to the new AR set-up for learning. Discuss what AR means and the ways it could be used in the classroom. Provide them with examples of AR experiences and let them explore AR apps and software on their own.
Are there affordable AR devices to use in schools?
There are budget-friendly AR software and apps for educational institutions. An excellent example of this is Co Spaces Edu, a 3D animation program. The free version is available while the paid plans begin with $74.99.
What topics benefit greatest from AR integration?
AR integration can be beneficial for courses that have spatial or visual components such as History, Science, and Arts. For example, in science learners may use AR to engage with virtual simulations of chemical compounds, or even dissect virtual organisms.
For those interested in history, they may look into ancient civilizations by overlaying virtual ruin sites onto actual locations. In Geography, they can explore different countries and cultures by overlaying virtual maps or landmarks onto real-world locations. Art students can use AR to bring their art to life in 3D.
What are the common applications of augmented reality in education?
There are many methods you can use augmented realities in order to boost learning and teaching within the school. You can, for instance, add 3D animations and models to the textbooks you use to make the material more interactive. It is also possible to visualize real-life scenarios, such as a tree germinating from the soil or abstract concepts from science.