AR Apps by Teachers

Augmented Reality Apps | FREE teacher lesson resources

What 3 things are teachers looking for in Educational Apps?

By

learning

There are three main aspects of what a teacher will look for when findings Apps for use in their classroom – time, learning, and student engagement.

Time!

Time is a big (huge) factor, and teachers are limited. If an App is going to take up planning time or training in addition to the resources are readily available, it is difficult to justify the incorporation of a new App. If a teacher is going to need to play the App through it’s entirety as a method of screening, swipe left. Similarly, if the App takes longer for students to use in the classroom than the time in which the topic would usually be taught, there simply may not be opportunity to accommodate this. For the time poor teacher, accompanying teacher resources such as worksheets and lesson plans are a fantastic time-saver to offer with an App.

Learning

Another query that teachers will make is whether or not learning objectives can be met by this App. If the App content, representations (3D objects, animations, graphics), and language are not well aligned to the level at which students are currently learning, it is likely that a teacher will move on. The App may lack depth, the language may be too easy/difficult, or representations and content may develop misunderstandings.

Student engagement

All teachers want students to be engaged in their learning. Apps, particularly in Augmented Reality, have a true scope for student engagement. However, if the language usage is off, very low-level thinking is required, the level of challenge is inappropriate, or obvious information is displayed, students can switch off quickly. There are more meaningful, accessible educational resources out there. Design must take authentic advantage of the inquiry-based and problem-solving opportunities that are unique to Apps and similar educational technologies.

So an App must be carefully balanced in terms of both teacher preparation and student usage time, better yet, it should save time. The App must consider at which stage of learning the topic is addressed and cater to the appropriate level. An App must not mimic what other more traditional educational resources already provide.

Is there a place for Augmented Reality in the classroom?

By

In his talk, ‘Augmented Reality – Science Fiction is now Science Fact’, Ryan Groom shows us the fascinating directions of AR. This merging of the physical and digital world opens up learning opportunities beyond the scope of today’s classroom.

The very parameters of the classroom are changing and we now have the ability to dream and realize the truly immersive capabilities of Augmented Reality. It is important that we move beyond the obvious delivery of information here as displaying information for students to read has little impact beyond that of other existing teaching and learning resources. This technology has the potential to be utilized to educate in a way that encourages:

  • higher-order thinking
  • inquiry learning
  • problem-based learning
  • life-long learning
scroll to top