AR, also known as Augmented Reality, can affect the learning experience and will undoubtedly change the educational system across the globe in the coming years. There are a lot of ideas on the table as of now, and schools are already using Augmented Reality apps to reap amazing results. With AR teachers can give students more information in a more engaging way to create an immersive environment for their students, with the potential to improve absenteeism rates in turn. Creativity and interaction are both strong pillars of the learning experience, as society evolves more people want to see a greater emphasis on this in modern education. AR can help change this, so let’s see how…
The Digital Age and the Mobile Phenomenon:
Let’s face it, most students nowadays, regardless of age, use smartphones – at least in the western world. They use it to game, connect with others, access social media, browse search engines, study, find out about different subjects and more… Augmented reality has the power to connect this digital world they are immersed in with their schooling system. AR merges the real and digital worlds together in a self-teaching experience that can benefit both students and teachers alike.
How Will an AR Classroom Be?
Let’s say you’re talking about Charles Darwin… You can programme your students’ wearables or programmes to display Darwin’s image, along with his bio, fun facts and more, all floating around you whilst you’re presenting. You can also show visual models, and highlight or showcase data you would find helpful for them to understand the topic you’re talking about. You can also pack some video or audio tips on your student’s homework that they can interact with, so you’re not only helping out but you’re reinforcing the bonds between student-teacher. This can go a long way improving someone’s chances to succeed at school.
Addressing Abstract Concepts:
Some subjects are straightforward whilst some subjects are more abstract. If you’re a teacher then you know how difficult explaining some complex subjects can be. Teachers often resort to gestures and even drawings to help their students visualise a concept. AR is an effective means of visualisation through the use of AR models, 3D graphics and overlays which can make miracles happen for visual learners. These methods are already being used by Portugal, Estonia and some other European countries with great success. In summary, AR can help practical skills and theoretical knowledge alike, as it allows students to visualize and to expand upon a subject in a non-intrusive way. The most exciting thing is that we are still at the early stages of this AR revolution in schooling.