Augmented reality is one of the most productive forms of Information Technology that has been deployed to the classroom environment. It provides an integrated approach to engage students in a way that simplify complex concepts through real-life simulations. This builds the cognitive abilities of the students, thus making them relate the curricular concepts to real-life situations easily. Utilization of the augmented reality in the teaching and learning process productively relieves students all boredom that is associated with the traditional lesson delivery methods through increased classroom interactions. We conducted some research to bring you some of the ways through which Augmented Reality has been notably applied in education to help of low-grade students through enhanced creativity, classroom interactions, and improved memory.
How Augmented Reality Has Changed Education
Education systems that have fully integrated Augmented Reality as a teaching and learning methods stand to enjoy various benefits. The benefits of AR in education vary among teachers and students. For students, it enhances their comprehension and memory retention skills while for teachers, it reduces workload and helps them to complete their teaching milestones on time. Here are some of the common examples of how Augmented Reality has changed education:
- Simplification of abstract and complex concepts through 3D modeling
- Improved lesson delivery for students with learning disabilities
- Boosts learners’ creativity and inquisitiveness
- Highly efficient in teaching a variety of subjects
Improved Student Engagement and Interactions
Augmented reality has made it possible for teachers to actively involve students in the learning process through the use of 3-dimensional models. This incorporates fun into the learning process, thus attracting students’ attention throughout the process. Augmented reality technology has enabled students to participate in online forums that teach important skills such as modeling, essay writing, and laboratory experiments.
Increased Application of Conceptual Modeling
Traditional methods of class content delivery involve providing manual solutions to questions set within the scope of the curriculum. After the inception of augmented reality into the classroom, teachers are not able to support students in the process of knowledge transfer by the use of advanced AR applications for conceptual modeling. This is more practical among medical students who find it easier to study and understand human anatomy by creating models of body parts using AR applications. Information technology has improved the concept of augmented reality for medical students by adding interactive features such as holographic lenses the make the learning process even richer. As a result, the school is now able to produce highly trained professionals, thanks to Information Technology.
AR in Education
Uses of augmented reality in education are quite an interesting topic, and I know you might be wondering how it works and what applications you as a student can use in modeling. You do not need to worry; I have done some research for you and come up with some of the commonly used AR apps in education. The best thing about augmented reality applications is that developers have categorized them depending on their uses such as those for self-education, specialized learning, and for teaching kids.
Moreover, AR apps have been further classified according to education levels, including high school, elementary schools, and college. Here are some good examples of augmented reality applications that you can use in the classroom:
- Element 4D – This mobile application runs on iOS and Android gadgets; thus, it’s suitable for every student and teacher. Element 4D is used in the modeling of chemistry concepts since it is designed to allow for the virtual reaction of elements through simulation to observe their reaction properties as you would in reality. This application is specially designed to accommodate chemistry students at all education levels. This makes an appropriate tool for use by teachers to explain complex chemical reactions in augmented reality.
- Anatomy 4D – This is a specialized augmented reality application that is capable of running in both Android and iOS devices for use by medical students. It allows for scanning of printed body parts, which are then transformed into 3D models of various body parts. This allows you to interact with the scanned parts to adjust any body part for enhanced understanding of their functionality, anatomy, and health conditions that affect these body parts. I must agree that this technology has helped to produce better doctors every year.
- AugThat – This is a special augmented reality application that has been designed to help students who find it hard to concentrate through lessons or lack the motivation to engage in class discussions. AugThat supports such students by modeling 360-degree images of concepts taught as well as the integration of 3D experiences in the teaching process, thus capturing the attention of every student. This application has proved invaluable in the teaching of students with learning difficulties, thus reducing mass dropouts in science classes.
