The traditional method of teaching is steadily taking a back seat, at least for the forward-minded educator. Gradually, new trends are emerging in the education sector, as technological innovation and the immersive experience are increasingly moving to the forefront.
One of the most notable digital innovations in recent times is augmented reality (AR). Augmented reality in education is a new trend that opens a world of learning opportunities for both students and educators, as well as creating more businesses.
Read on to find out productive ways you can apply augmented reality in education.
Benefits of Augmented Reality in Education
The benefits of AR education span across learners of all ages and groups, covering pre-school up to university. Here are some of the ways this technology can enhance learning:
Increased Interest and Student Engagement
AR increases learner interest and engagement level in an otherwise boring classroom. This is because augmented reality includes gamified learning that positively impacts student’s interests.
With increased interactivity, AR learning is more fun, engaging, and effortless. Needless to say, these are the recipes for increased assimilation.
Enhanced Practical Learning
Augmented reality in education can help students to master practical skills. It allows for a learning experience with precise depictions of real-life or in-field conditions. This provides first-hand experiential learning that gives students the chance to test theories on a 3D model.
Efficient and Safer Training
AR is more efficient and safer for training, especially when such training involves risks. For example, students can practice how to perform delicate medical procedures or work with different volatile compounds without actually risking any lives.
With augmented reality in education, nothing gets damaged even if something goes wrong during practice because everything happens in virtual reality.
Improved Collaboration among Students
AR provides plenty of interactive opportunities for students. This minimizes boring lessons and helps students to develop their teamwork skills.
Increased Accessibility
With AR apps, students don’t need to spend a lot of money to access learning materials. Augmented reality in education can be an effective and cheaper replacement for physical models, printed manuals, or even paper textbooks.
Both younger learners and college or university students use mobile devices a lot. This means they don’t need to be in a traditional classroom to access learning materials. They can learn on the go because AR makes education more mobile.
Readily Available Hardware
No special or expensive hardware is required to use augmented reality technology. Most mobile devices are compatible with AR apps.
As mentioned earlier, most teens and young adults own or have ready access to some type of mobile device, such as an iPhone, tablet, or smartphone. This means AR technology can be easily accessed by a large percentage of the target audience.
Applications of Augmented Reality in Education
AR in the Classroom
Augmented reality in the classroom is the most common use of AR apps in education. Teachers and instructors use the apps to explain both simple and complex topics, simplifying the entire learning process with visual representations.
There is a vast collection of AR apps for nearly every subject taught in schools, from science to history, grammar, and even coding.
Augmented Reality for Museums
Education is not limited to the classroom. Museums can increase learners’ or visitors’ engagement by adding AR content to architectural monuments, historic artifacts, and paintings.
In addition to creating interactivity, an AR experience in museums can stimulate learners’ interest in cultural heritage and enhance the overall museum experience.
AR Apps for Younger Learners
Kids are easily drawn to AR apps because of the visual learning opportunities they provide. Including this technology in children’s classes can greatly improve how kids view learning.
One excellent example for kids between ages 3 and 5 is the Narrator AR app. It is designed to inspire kids in terms of improving their handwriting. The app launches letters off the pages of textbooks in virtual reality.
In a world where devices tend to be the go-to choice for writing, the Narrator AR app with its captivating special effects is a great addition to a kid’s learning toolkit.
AR for Online Learning
Online learning can also benefit from AR technology. AR-aided educational materials are more efficient for distance learners.
Language learning AR apps, such as Mondly, offer distance learners the chance to practice language skills with a virtual teacher in a spectacular way.
Mondly teaches different languages from across the world, including English, French, Italian, Chinese, Russian, and more. It allows learners to explore various cultures while learning their language in a fun and exciting way.
Using the latest innovations in speech recognition technology, the virtual teacher (which is actually an AI chatbot) can understand your questions and provide accurate answers. Learners also get feedback on their pronunciations in various languages using a human-like voice.
Tips to Get the Best Out of Augmented Reality in Education
As you may have noticed from the benefits mentioned above, the use of AR is not the same for every level of schooling.
Consider the following suggestions to help you get the best out of this technology:
- Define your target audience: AR apps for learning are designed to suit different purposes and age groups. It is important to understand the needs of your students (based on their level of education) before introducing the technology. For example, an augmented reality app designed for high-school students will not be suitable for younger kids or those in college.
- Device Compatibility: It may not be possible for AR content to work well on all types of devices. However, it is a good idea to choose an app that can provide the best content quality for most of your student’s devices.
Conclusion
There is just no getting away from it; augmented reality in education is our current reality. The sooner we make room for it, the quicker we catch up to the future. Educators and institutions of learning at all levels that want to stay relevant must find ways to incorporate virtual reality technology into their teaching methods.
Check out this post for in-depth benefits of augmented reality in education and learning.
