With one hand holding a cardboard virtual reality (VR)
viewer, the young boy raises his other arm and wiggles his fingers to grasp an
unseen object. The student forgets he is inside a Kentucky classroom. Virtual
reality transported the boy to a crowded market in Ethiopia. He yearns to do
more than view and move in his new environment. He wants to inspect all sides
of individual objects and creatures. Augmented reality (AR) is his solution.
Augmented reality is an interactive experience of a
real-world environment whose elements are "augmented" by
computer-generated perceptual information. AR adds to the reality you would
ordinarily see rather than replacing it. Simply stated, AR overlays the virtual
world.
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| Wikimedia Commons |
There is a lot of hype surrounding AR right now and for good
reason. This technology is transforming the way people perceive the world as it
is and as it could be. For instance, some retailers are using AR to provide
more personalized experiences to customers. Consumers can now browse products
in 3D from the comfort of their own homes. A person who is remodeling their
house can view interior walls in various colors before ever applying any actual
paint. Shoppers can position a new chair in the corner of their living room
before ever going to the store. AR enables users to visualize what is possible.
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| Wikimedia Commons |
Schools are using AR technology to present information in a
fun, engaging way for all learners—from the gifted to the reluctant. Blending
the physical world with a virtual environment will soon be an integral part of
the classroom. Do not wait until the technology is perfected and approved by
all your colleagues. Be
that teacher
who tries out the latest advancements in education by integrating AR in your
curriculum. Others in your building will follow suit once they see your
students acquiring new knowledge and making cross-curricular connections.
Use these mobile apps to incorporate augmented reality
into the classroom:
Expeditions AR enables teachers and students to bring
virtual objects into their physical space, bringing abstract concepts to life.
This holographic cube lets you play, learn, and explore in
magical new ways. Just download apps and view the cube through your device's
camera.
Through this in-depth, interactive storytelling experience,
learn how wildlife, people and entire landscapes depend on healthy rivers.
The BBC's augmented reality mobile app brings art and
culture directly to you from across the world.
3-2-1 Launch is an app that lets you experience rocket
launches in AR. The live launch and simulated launch options get you up close
to SpaceX.
This app uses your device's lens to take you to the moon
where you can explore its mysterious surface.
Don’t Just Consume AR, Create It!
3DBear AR makes it super easy for students to create awesome
3D-models in augmented reality and then 3D-print them if you wish.
HP Reveal is an augmented reality studio. It is so simple
that anyone can create (without ANY coding), an AR experience.
As educators, we can captivate our students using AR. The
next time the young boy described earlier learns about international marketplaces,
he can do more than go there. AR will allow him to investigate interesting items
from that destination. The good news is that students’ adventures with AR are only
beginning. This trendy tech tool will continue to improve. Perhaps the next time
one of my students visits a market in Africa, he or she will take on the role
of an intrepid hero like Indian Jones who completes lifelike missions. You
never know. It could happen!
