Educational practices as we know them today are rapidly becoming obsolete. Technological advancements are pushing them toward digitalization. The so-called EdTech market, which encompasses educational technologies, is projected to rise to $680.1 billion by 2027, an annual growth rate of 17.9%.
One of the most fascinating trends in educational technology right now is augmented reality (AR). Opportunities for both schools and businesses will increase as the value of augmented reality in educational technology is expected to reach $5.3 billion by 2023.
How does it transform the learning experience?
It has the potential to revolutionize the way we engage with graphical content on mobile devices. In fact, with Augmented Reality, CGI may be superimposed upon an existing live video feed.
To put it another way, augmented reality allows you to see a computer-generated item on your screen while you point your mobile device's camera at space. Everything occurs in the instant that it is captured on camera. With this method, class time can be more engaging for everyone involved.
The use of Augmented Reality in Education
Augmented reality has several possible uses in the classroom. It facilitates the students' ability to learn the material and retain it. Furthermore, AR makes the process of learning more interesting and enjoyable.
Furthermore, it is not restricted to a specific age range or educational level but rather is applicable from the earliest grades all the way through university and beyond.
The advantages of Augmented Reality in Education
Accessible learning materials
Augmented reality could make printed manuals, physical models, posters, and textbooks obsolete. It provides convenient, affordable, and lightweight study resources. This allows for learning to occur whenever and wherever is most convenient for the student.
No special equipment required
In contrast to virtual reality, augmented reality doesn't need specialized equipment to work. The vast majority of the intended audience already has the means to make use of augmented reality technologies (73% of teens presently own a smartphone).
Increased student engagement and interest
Students can greatly benefit from engaging in interactive, game-like AR instruction. It makes learning enjoyable and easy while keeping their attention throughout the entire class.
Improved collaboration capabilities
There is a lot of room for creativity and innovation in the classroom thanks to augmented reality apps. Collaborative learning environments are ideal for developing students' teamwork skills. Because AR data is digital, it can be freely distributed. A team of educators working with their pupils, for instance, can improve the material over time. Because they are contributing to the development of their own learning materials, students in a group setting are more invested in their academic success.
Learning process with increased efficiency
Students benefit from AR in the classroom because it allows them to better visualize concepts and immerse themselves in lessons. The saying goes that a picture is worth a thousand words. This way, rather than just reading about something in a textbook, students may actually observe it in action.
Practical learning
Augmented reality (AR) has many applications beyond the classroom. For instance, simulating real-world settings helps develop the abilities necessary to perform a job successfully.
Protected and efficient workplace training
Imagine being able to hone your skills in heart surgery or space shuttle operations without putting real lives in danger or millions at risk. AR makes it a real possibility.
Universally applicable for any level of education
Augmented reality can be used in a wide variety of contexts, from early childhood education to workforce development.
Good-quality content
Some educators are hesitant to use AR because they worry that it will cause students to focus more on games and other forms of entertainment than on learning. However, current augmented reality technology allows educators to craft their own immersive educational experiences to better guarantee that students retain classroom material.
Sensory development
Teachers can benefit from AR technology by including multimodal activities in their lesson plans. Rather than simply observing a demonstration, students might benefit from interactive virtual content that employs an experiential learning style. Taking a sensory-first approach can be beneficial.
Cost-effectiveness
Many people believe that the price of AR technology prevents it from being widely adopted. Since most young Americans already own smartphones with the necessary technology to run AR apps, incorporating AR into the classroom is becoming a more cost-effective option as smartphone use among this demographic continues to rise. Also, by eliminating the need for costly textbooks, AR can help schools save money.
Challenges for Augmented Reality in Education
While there are many positive aspects to incorporating AR into educational technology, there are also some potential drawbacks to be aware of.
Lack of training
Unfortunately, not all educators will be equipped to effectively implement this new technology in their classrooms. Only the most forward-thinking schools and educators are prepared to adopt augmented reality apps as a teaching tool.
Dependence on hardware
It takes a certain amount of infrastructure to implement augmented reality in the classroom. When it comes to augmented reality (AR) apps, for instance, not all students have smartphones that can run them.
Content portability issue
The augmented reality software you create must be accessible on all devices and operating systems. Providing uniformly high-quality augmented reality content, however, is nigh impossible across platforms.
Examples of Augmented Reality in the Education System
Below are a few examples of augmented reality in education and a few tools for teachers.
Math
Teachers can use augmented reality (AR) tools to make math lessons more interesting and informative for their students. Photomath is a smartphone augmented reality app that scans a student's paper math worksheet and then animatedly guides them through the solution process. Students can benefit from the use of augmented reality apps in the classroom by visualizing and interacting with 3D models of mathematical topics. For example, the Merge Cube is a virtual cube that students may "grasp," "see," and "rotate" in order to better understand geometric concepts.
Chemistry and Biology
Teachers can use augmented reality (AR) apps to create more interactive lessons for their students. Teachers can better support students' scientific investigations by integrating augmented reality (AR) features, films, and animation. Chem101 AR, for instance, simplifies the chemistry behind acids and oxides for pupils. Using these unique cards, students may realistically manipulate chemical structures and create new compounds.
History
With the help of augmented reality (AR) equipment, educators may make learning more interesting for their pupils. Virtual field trips to historic and cultural landmarks throughout the world are made possible by apps like 360Cities and Timelooper. Teachers and students can utilize augmented reality apps on their cellphones to learn more about the artifacts on display in museums and other historical locations.
Coding
One of the best things about augmented reality is that it encourages student participation in the planning of classroom activities alongside professors. Platforms also allow educators to create coding lessons utilizing augmented reality. Teachers can use Tynker, for instance, to learn how to code video games. It also facilitates the creation of AR projects for the classroom.
Augmented Reality in Higher Education
Augmented reality has numerous uses in the academic world. Teachers use augmented reality (AR) platforms to produce educational content and integrate game-based learning into their lessons. Teachers can utilize augmented reality to help pupils see and understand abstract concepts. Check out these examples of augmented reality in higher education.
Theatre
University drama departments are starting to include AR training as part of their courses now that theaters are using augmented reality (AR) tools like the ARShow platform. In order to better visualize stage design and provide virtual walk-throughs prior to set construction, one university developed augmented reality software.
Science, technology, and engineering
The STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) disciplines in American universities are among the most enthusiastic adopters of augmented reality. Students can, for instance, employ augmented reality (AR) technology in a hands-on, collaborative lab to run a chemical factory and test out various chemical reactions.
Medicine
The field of medicine is greatly benefiting from the use of augmented reality in education. It can allow students to observe actual surgical procedures in real time. Using human anatomy simulations and models, augmented reality apps can potentially benefit medical education. One cutting-edge program gives surgeons a virtual tour of a patient's inside organs before they operate.
Augmented Reality in the Classroom
Using AR apps in a classroom setting is likely the most widely adopted usage of AR technology in education. In this context, they can aid the instructor in the explanation of a topic, give students a visual picture of the subject matter, and facilitate practical assessments of students' understanding.
Specifically, there is an augmented reality (AR) app for just about anything these days.
Examples of AR in the classroom
- Assemblr EDU leaves behind the days of relying entirely on texts, drawings, and diagrams for education. Now, thanks to advances in 3D and augmented reality, educators may make their lessons more exciting and interactive for their pupils.
- Merge Cube turns 2D images into 3D objects that students can hold and examine from all angles. Using this interactive AR in the classroom would greatly improve students' ability to learn STEM subjects.
- Arloon Geometry is a popular augmented reality tool for teaching geometry. This program helps students interactively explore 2D and 3D geometric shapes, which is very helpful in a topic that relies largely on visualization.
Distance Learning
Students can expand their educational experience with augmented reality tools. Additionally, using AR-enhanced learning materials can facilitate and optimize online or remote education.
Examples of AR apps for distance learning
- Wonderscope: demonstrates the potential of augmented reality as a teaching tool for youngsters, especially in situations where some kids must be absent from class. The app uses the device's screen to make the stories come to life, drawing children's interest in and enthusiasm for reading.
- 3D Bear App: This app is ideal for online education since it combines the best features of augmented reality and distance education. The creators of the system designed a simple area for teachers to exercise command over the distant learning process.
AR for e-learning applications
Keeping students interested in lectures is challenging due to the growing trend of students learning independently outside of class. That's why augmented reality is being embraced so wholeheartedly by the makers of e-learning apps. Overall, AR innovation is helping to increase the technology's market share.
When students use e-learning applications with augmented reality, the augmented item is displayed on the screen, and 3D concept demonstrations are played. The widespread usage of computer graphics allows for the capture of an object, its subsequent display in the augmented environment, and the rendering of searches pertaining to that object. This means the app can take pictures of things in the real world and provide you with information about them. Make your own innovative augmented reality (AR) e-learning app today.
AR in professional training
Companies in the aerospace, aviation, hospitality, and military sectors, among others, must devote substantial resources to military training. Saving money and making education more engaging are both possible with augmented reality.
Some ways to achieve this are:
Space station maintenance is just one example of the kinds of operations that could benefit from the MR (virtual and existent reality) idea spearheaded by AR. NASA's Sidekick project is putting Hololens through its paces by creating a virtual trainer that can deliver instructions and visuals. Overall, its primary appeal lies in its potential application in military training, where it can assist in teaching personnel how to operate machinery in a simulated setting. In this way, soldiers might avoid unnecessary risks during training.
Cases of AR use across various places
Several well-known applications of AR in teaching demonstrate the method's potential benefits.
- Teaching kids how to stay safe. More than 80 Chinese preschools have implemented an augmented reality elementary education curriculum to instill in young children a keen sense of personal safety. The organizers of the event believe that students will learn more from and benefit more from this hands-on approach to education.
- Western University's Augmented Reality Lab “the Unity Charitable Fund” supported Western University's Augmented Reality Shark Swim Project. Both the biology students and the sharks benefit from this opportunity to learn how to make quick decisions in a dangerous situation.
- Using Google Arts and Culture as a teaching tool due to the pandemic and quarantine, it is considerably more difficult to take pupils on field trips to cultural institutions. You may take a 3D virtual tour of the world's most famous museums, enjoy a day at the ballet, or even go to another country using this software from Google, all without having to leave class or your house.
Wrap up
Using AR to revolutionize the entire educational process would be a huge step forward for the status quo. Overall, it will have an effect on students' motivation and productivity. Also, pupils will have an easier time grasping complex ideas thanks to the enhanced immersion. Also, schools that use technology to create a fantastic learning environment will attract a lot of students.
