What are the benefits?
The biggest benefit augmented reality can provide educators is in the area of student engagement. Augmented reality extends the learning space to help students form connections with content, the locations that provide the context for it, and the peers that they share with it ("Seven things you," 2005).
What are the downsides?
Of course, as with any new technology, there are some downsides to augmented reality. One of the biggest setbacks a classroom teacher can face is the cost of the hardware needed to facilitate augmented reality. Most of the technology is very technical and complex an can be expensive to buy and also to maintain ("Seven things you," 2005). One great solution to this problem is the advances in small digital devices like iPhones and iPads. There are many apps that already exist for these devices that can be used in the classroom for various subjects.
Another problem with augmented reality is it focuses more on individual learning and not group learning ("Seven things you," 2005). One way to combat this problem is to use augmented reality technology as a presentation tool for students in a group project.
Although there may be setbacks, the advantages, especially with student engagement, outweigh the downsides.
What will you need?
The biggest benefit augmented reality can provide educators is in the area of student engagement. Augmented reality extends the learning space to help students form connections with content, the locations that provide the context for it, and the peers that they share with it ("Seven things you," 2005).
What are the downsides?
Of course, as with any new technology, there are some downsides to augmented reality. One of the biggest setbacks a classroom teacher can face is the cost of the hardware needed to facilitate augmented reality. Most of the technology is very technical and complex an can be expensive to buy and also to maintain ("Seven things you," 2005). One great solution to this problem is the advances in small digital devices like iPhones and iPads. There are many apps that already exist for these devices that can be used in the classroom for various subjects.
Another problem with augmented reality is it focuses more on individual learning and not group learning ("Seven things you," 2005). One way to combat this problem is to use augmented reality technology as a presentation tool for students in a group project.
Although there may be setbacks, the advantages, especially with student engagement, outweigh the downsides.
What will you need?
As mentioned above, one of the biggest challenges of using augmented reality in your classroom in the cost of obtaining and maintaing the hardware needed to facilitate the process. The more sophisticated types of augmented reality involve elaborate headgear and computer systems, but there are other types that are more simple and take advantage of small digital devices like iPhones, iPads, tablets, and computers. These types of devices are relatively inexpensive for your school to purchase and in most cases you can apply for grants in order to get the necessary equipment. Also, some of your students may already own such devices.
How can I use this in my classroom?
I have found that one of the hardest things in teaching is really getting your students into the subject you're teaching and make it come alive. Augmented reality makes this an easy task.
In his article 5 Ways to Use Augmented Reality in the Classroom, Tom Hesmondhalgh suggests some general guides on how to integrate this technology into your lessons (Hesmondhalgh, 2012).
Display Skills and Techniques: A.R. can allow students to double check the right ways of completing a skill by holding the camera of a smart phone or iPod over the object. For example, if a student would like to check how to light a Bunsen burner in chemistry class, they could simply snap a picture of the burner and a short video would play showing how to light it.
Explore Shape and Space: A smart phone or computer can recognize a marker and superimpose a model or graphic over the object. For example, students can see the 3-D characteristics of different type of geometric shapes, making it easier to calculate their dimensions in a Geometry class.
Bring Books to Life: Augmented reality devices can help bring books to life by adding animations, sounds, and videos as students hover a camera over a certain point in the book. For example, in a history class, as students read about the Civil War, they can take a picture of an icon which would start a short video showing drawings of the war along with sound bites of letters from soldiers.
Here is a short video showcasing some other examples of how to use augmented reality in the classroom:
You make very good points in the setbacks. Those were exactly what I was thinking about as I read through these pages. Also, each generation becomes more ADD than the next. I think we almost condone it the more we try to entertain them as opposed to teach them.
ReplyDeleteI think some of the A.R. technology that exists and is being created is definitely more for entertainment purposes than education, but the education side is coming! I think most of the applications for education will be like the video above where organs are superimposed on the body. I think the goal will be more to help students make real connections to the material instead of entertaining them. But with most of the technology out there I think it is going to fall on the teacher as to how the technology is used.
DeleteI have to say that my students remember an entertaining classroom experience more than a richly content packed experience. I can joke around and act like a clown and teach one or two concepts during the week and then teach 4 or 5 concepts in one period and I can guarantee that the students will remember the entertaining lesson and usually can't recall anything from the content rich class. I definitely agree that we need to make AR more educational but who says education cant be entertaining.....or atleast more meaningful.
DeleteI agree, David. Sometimes being silly while teaching has a much bigger impact than a lesson you think is great. Hopefully A.R. will allow us to combine both entertainment and learning!
DeleteI totally agree with entertaining while educating goes much further than lecture. But I also find some lessons are difficult to teach while entertaining.
DeleteA.R. would blow my students minds in health class! The video above that shows the organs, bones, muscles, etc. would be a great tool for my instruction. For students to actually see these body parts and where they belong in a more "life-like" setting would increase interest and engagement through the roof!
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