Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Technology has continued to progress in the last few years rapidly. As a result, it has led to significant improvements in various fields and industries. Technology makes obstacles more surpassable and convenient for us. This is why our society continues to depend extensively on technology. However, one field has been relatively slow to accept new technologies in overall and Augmented Reality in particular. This is the education sector.
Whatever the reasons for this, technology has slowly made its way to the classroom. You may have likely experienced them in classrooms yourselves, whether it be projectors or touch screen boards. This leads to the question: Is there room for further technology in the classroom? Yes, and one answer is AR (Augmented Reality) teaching. But what is AR teaching? How does this help in the classroom? How does it take advantage of technology? We will discuss exactly that in this article.
Let’s dive in.
What is Augmented Reality (AR) teaching?
AR teaching uses augmented reality technology that superimposes media like graphics and images into the actual environment. It has been used extensively in various industries, but recently it has begun to make its way to classrooms. It can even work in a career coaching company, like CareerSuccessAustralia. This is because these superimpositions allow it to change the way teachers can deliver education to their students. There are various advantages that this technology can provide when it comes to teaching.
These are:
- Making classrooms much more interactive. With textbooks, students cannot interact with what they are looking at as opposed to augmented reality. Additionally, it allows sensory development, which further encourages interactivity.
- It keeps students engaged as they will be able to look at virtual worlds with much more clarity and interactivity. Teachers can even use this tech to implement game-like features that keep students interested.
- It provides a better learning environment as students can more effectively understand complex designs and diagrams. This is because they can look at them in 3D instead of traditional 2D.
How does AR teaching take technology to its peak?
AR teaching uses much of the latest technology, some of which we use regularly. It can work on basic smartphones through the built-in camera. This is through the use of smartphone apps that make use of augmented reality. You can download these from standard app stores, much like you would download an AR game like PokemonGo. Additionally, AR teaching can use other devices like Google Glass, Vuzix Blade and Dream Glass.
These devices make AR teaching and learning a lot more convenient than smartphones. Typically, educational AR apps are created using an AR hardware kit alongside developers. There are various educational AR apps and tools that are available and ideal for all subjects. We will discuss some of these so you can get an idea of the scope of this technology. These are:
Sky Map
This is an app created by Google that is excellent for teaching in classrooms. It helps students learn about the solar system innovatively and interactively. It works because students point the cameras in their devices towards the sky. The app then shows them stellar bodies in space according to the direction they are looking. It will even provide them with information that ensures they can learn about the universe.
JigSpace
This AR educational app offers an extensive library full of knowledge. There are 3D presentations about how things work, which are explained in simple steps. These presentations are known as ‘jigs’, and they explain everything visually through AR technology. This includes various topics like human anatomy, the solar system and multiple inventions.
Catchy Words AR
This is a free word game application that is ideal for elementary students. Teachers can teach them how to solve puzzles by integrating movement with learning. Typically, elementary students tend to be quite restless and energetic, so it is perfect for teaching them. This game works because students walk around the classroom and catch letters to solve word puzzles with their devices.
In conclusion
Technology has rapidly progressed in the past few years. This technology has transformed various industries and sectors. Implementing new technology has been slow in education, but we have steadily begun to see it in classrooms. One such technology includes AR technology which is used for AR teaching. AR teaching provides various benefits in the classroom, including making classes more interactive and engaging. Various AR teaching tools and apps allow the superimposition of media onto the actual environment for ideal teaching. In this way, AR teaching uses both the latest and conventional technology. We hope this article has been insightful and has helped you learn about this fascinating new technology. Thank you for reading!
Learn more about AR Teaching: CleverBooks for Educators