A Tale of How AR (Augmented Reality) is Increasing the Productivity of Schools and Students Around the World.
There are a lot of functioning Augmented Reality Apps already doing a great job at increasing the productivity of both students and schools in general throughout the world in developed and “in-development” countries alike.
Throughout this post we thought about giving you 10 examples of apps already doing their augmented reality job just fine, and contributing through a very original way – and one that helps students transcend the limitations of the classroom in the past, embracing the new possibilities of the classroom of the future.
So, grab a smartphone because you can download and test most of these apps at home… if you’re curious to know just what AR has to offer, then this article is for you.
Froggidpedia: Life-Like Visuals for a Biology Class Total Overhaul
This is a mobile application that allows you to go over a frog’s biology without having to dissect one. You can now perform the standard dissection of this animal without needing to hard one as you’ll be given a virtual frog and tools to complete the procedure through a visual layer in AR.
This isn’t only intuitive and helpful, but also saves dozens of lives per classroom. A great way to tackle this common exercise.
JigSpace: A 3D Augmented Reality App to Put It Simple
If you want an app that explains through the use of both VR and AR alike, then this is the app for you. The header tells it like it is, JigSpace simplifies complex learning subjects and allow students to see the simple stuff, like inventions and the solar system, to complex structures like the human heart.
This includes a lot of different angles as this is a 3D experience.
MERGE Cube: Holographic Experience Before Holograms Existed
Who of us wouldn’t like to have one of those holographic devices in most Sci-Fi futuristic series and movies such as Star Trek and Star Wars?
Well, technology didn’t catch up to that point yet, but you have Merge Cube as the next big thing.
This is a different app since it really comes with a foam cube, with designs on each side. The pricetag marks it at $15 in most retailers, which is nice and affordable since you’ll usually pass it around the classroom, making it a budget choice for a high-tech teacher.
It can be used to customize lessons and it basically allows students to hold models of something, such as dinosaur bones or even planet Earth.
Metaverse: A 13+ App With a Price Tag of Zero!
That’s right, Metaverse is a free App, which is a great thing as it really makes it easy for people to try it. It is aimed at an audience of thirteen or over, and it can be used to share interactive information through an augmented reality way.
The platform is usually used with gamification as an ally since the model makes it work well. Teachers can give out tests and also games or diagnostic exams. Better yet, you have student-created material in this one, or really just user-made content, so that’s a sign the app will just keep improving.
Catchy Words AR:
A game that you learn while you move. Elementary school teachers love Catchy Words AR but, because it’s a free game, it can be easily downloaded to your device and you can also use it at home with your kids! This is a word game where, even though you don’t need to touch the screen to play, you can have the kids move around with their devices to capture the letters in the room and solve word puzzles. This is a great learning booster for them, while giving them some activity and movement on the process!
Moatboat: Not Really An App, But Hear Me Out!
So Moatboat isn’t an app per se, but a creation engine. The user can’t be a kindergarten one, but one who knows how to issue simple commands and program behaviors through a drag and drop sort of way. You can then share the creations with other creators and simple users who are browsing for another content piece to enjoy or learn with.
Moatboat has been used to convey studies that aren’t readilly available in other apps.
Orb: An Overlay for the “Real World”
This is another creation studio / app that allows you to create 3D objects. These 3D objects you create will appear to be a part of the world we live in, the physical one, blending from AR to RR (real reality, I guess) seamlessly.
When you create something, you can even export it to print on a 3D printer, so students can print out their own creations, giving it added interest.
CoSpaces Edu: Some Coding Experience Required
First of all, to use CoSpaces Edu, you need some coding experience. But, being a student with that type of knowledge you can use this tool do design your own virtual 3D worlds. You won’t be doing this by yourself though, as CoSpaces Edu has, not only, teachers that can create classes and give assignments, aswell as you can download an app to be your companion in this journey. This way you can take the most of your learning experience, not only with virtual 3D worlds, but also by creating infographics. This platform allows you to upload varied images, from normal to 360-degree photos and you can also tell your stories trough virtual tours and exhibis.
World Brush: Paint the World Around You
This is one of those AR Brush apps which let you paint in “3D”. A different approach to art class, you can even paint in anonymitty as you can play without showing your identity and just configuring your art to be exhibited in a certain place (usually the place where you paint it on the real world).
Definitely something you should look forward to trying, even if you’re not a student or teacher – it’s just crazy fun!
3D Bear:
Just like the name insinuates, this app is based in 3D models with this app’s object library. But if this is not your area of expertise fear not, because this platform has a web-base dashboard filled with lessons that were created and assign by teachers, ready to help you in any way they can. Not only that, but the ready-made lessons don’t just cover the basics, but a various range of topics that can help the students to be more proactive learners. So, this is an app that allows its students to create, build and share scenes using 3D models, not only from the existing library, but also with imported content from Thingiverse.