Augmented Reality for Elementary Students? Yes, it IS Possible
My journey with augmented reality (AR) began around seven years ago when I started investigating various software and hardware available. I was looking for AR technologies for first-grade students because I was a first-grade teacher. I wanted something to help my young mathematicians better understand the size, scale, and depth of 3D shapes. I was also looking for something that engaged my budding scientists to extend their experiences beyond what I could provide them in the classroom. Then, I ran across an article about how augmented and virtual reality would soon change classrooms.
Fast forward to a few weeks ago when I saw Merge Cubes (no affiliation on my part) in action at a tech conference, and my thirst for this technology grew. AR lets users hold and manipulate digital 3D objects to explore STEM environments (Merge, n.d.). I like the engagement, motivation, and safety aspects of Merge Cubes for elementary students. With a Merge Cube and a mobile device, students can explore various science and mathematical concepts and still safely walk around their environment without the possibility of running into a wall because they are wearing virtual reality goggles that impede their vision of their physical environment.
(Merge, n.d.)
Check out what the Merge Cube can do in this video:
(Merge, n.d.)
There are many different AR software and hardware available beyond Merge Cubes. CoSpaces Edu is an excellent place to investigate what AR can do for students. CoSpaces is a free resource for educators and students to begin their journey into AR (CoSpaces Edu, n.d.).
I strongly support AR in the classroom because it allows users to actively participate in learning anywhere they have internet access (Volioti et al., 2022; Zhang et al., 2022). Plus, AR provides new opportunities for students to go deeper into learning concepts and topics (Maas & Hughes, 2020; Pedaste et al., 2020; Volioti et al., 2022). For example, imagine looking from the inside of the human heart as it beats or exploring animal adaptations in various environments without transporting the animal to new settings. Picture learning 3D shapes from inside the shape to gain perspective on its size and depth or learning to measure distance on shape edges and seeing the size and scale in real-time. This is what AR can do for students.
One way I have used AR with students is by using the Virtuali-tee t-shirt and app. This t-shirt and app allow users to see inside the human body, look at specific organs from various perspectives, and zoom in to see microscopic details in each organ.
Image credits: Vicki's Tech Hub
How can you encourage teachers and students to explore AR in the classroom?
Mass, M. J., & Hughes, J. M. (2020). Virtual, augments and mixed reality in k–12 education: A review of the literature. Technology, Pedagogy and Education, 29(2), 231–249. https://doi.org/10.1080/1475939X.2020.1737210
Pedaste, M., Mitt, G., & Jurivete, T. (2020). What is the effect of using mobile augmented reality in k12 inquiry-based learning? Education Sciences, 10(4), 94–105. https://doi.org/10.3390/edusci10040094
Volioti, C., Kermopoulos, E., Sapounidis, T., Melisidis, K., Zafeiropoulou, M., Sotiriou, C., & Spiridis, V. (2022). Using augmented reality in k–12 education: An indicative platform for teaching physics. Information, 13(7), 336–363. https://doi.org/10.3390/info13070336.
Zhang, J., Huang, Q., Feng, Q., & Lou, H. (2022). Augmented reality in k–12 education: A systematic review and analysis of the literature from 2000 to 2020. Sustainability, 14(15), Article 9725. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14159725
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