Augmented Reality

Augmented Reality (AR) is a type of virtual reality that blends the real scene viewed by the user with a virtual scene generated by the computer. This composite view is designed to enhance the user’s sensory perception of the real world they are seeing or interacting with.

The explosion in the popularity of smartphones and other touch screen devices though, has led to the creation of various augmented reality applications. When most people first interact with augmented reality, they are amazed at what the technology can do. By layering data and information on top of the real world, augmented reality presents some exciting possibilities for the classroom as well, as it can help to increase student engagement and understanding of a lesson.
Teachers are still pioneering how augmented reality can best be used in the classroom. One thing is for sure though, that with the right apps, students’ engagement and overall level of understanding can be increased. By providing a completely different interface in which to interact with the environment around us, there are many many possibilities for how AR technology can be used in the classroom and developed in the future.

The apps discussed here provide a good place to start:

HP Reveal (Aurasma) allows people to turn everyday objects and images into an interactive opportunity. Using an iPad for example, you simply take a photo of an object, and then choose one of the many animations or images (or photos/videos that you have taken yourself) to overlay on top of the object. Whenever you then scan the object using the HP Reveal app, the object’s image triggers the augmented reality – whichever animation you have chosen suddenly becomes visible.

There are many ways this app could be used in the classroom. For example, teachers could create an interactive word wall – for every word on display, a relevant photo or video could be triggered by the app, which helps students to remember the words. Another possibility is to create an interactive newspaper article – just like in the Harry Potter films, the photo in the article could be programmed to turn into a video. Watch this video, to see some examples of how a teacher might use Aurasma in the classroom. You can also watch this tutorial video, which shows how to create digital auras (overlays) that are activated by the trigger images you choose.

CyberChase Shape Quest - This app is aimed at children ages 6 to 9, helping them to use their geometry and spatial reasoning to develop problem solving skills. Once the app is installed, you just need a printout of the game board. The children can then hover the iPad over the game board to trigger the augmented reality gaming experience. Unlike other games out there, this gets the children moving their whole bodies around the game board in order to interact with the game.

Spacecraft 3D – A great app to accompany any topic on space, Spacecraft 3D enables you to find out about the variety of spacecraft that are used to explore our solar system. Using printed AR images and the camera on the iPad, you get to see the robotic explorers close up.

Quiver is a brilliant app for all ages, but can be especially useful for younger children. Making use of a variety of colouring pages, which are available from the Quiver website for all subject areas, the colouring pages become 3D on your iPad just as you have coloured them!