Traditional educational systems as we know them are becoming obsolete. They are becoming increasingly digitised as a result of technological advancements. In reality, the education technology business, or EdTech, is predicted to increase at a 17.9% annual rate.
Using augmented reality in education and training: The opportunities and challenges
ย AR makes it easier for children to acquire, process, and recall knowledge.ย Furthermore, augmented reality makes educational activities more intriguing and pleasant.
It is also not confined to a single age group or level of education, but may be applied effectively at all levels of education, from pre-school to college, and even at work.
Benefits of augmented reality in education:
Learning materials are available at all times and from any location. Paper textbooks, physical models, posters, and written manuals could all be replaced with augmented reality. It provides portable and low-cost learning materials. Education becomes increasingly transferable readily available as a result.
There is no need for any specialised equipment.ย In contrast to virtual reality, augmented reality doesn’t necessitate one’s purchase of high-end technology.
Increased student involvement and interest. AR learning that is interactive and gamified can have a big positive impact on pupils. It keeps them interested throughout the class and makes learning enjoyable and simple.
Collaboration talents have improved. Augmented reality app development provide numerous chances for class diversification and disruption. Skills for collaboration can be ameliorated through lessons that are interactive in which individuals participate in the procedure of learning simultaneously.
A more efficient and effective learning method. AR in education helps students obtain higher results by allowing them to visualise and fully immerse themselves in the subject matter. Isn’t a picture worth a thousand words? Instead of reading theory about something, students may experience it in action with their own eyes.
Learning by doing. Aside from education, professional training can benefit immensely from the usage of augmented reality.ย
Workplace safety and efficiency training. Consider one’s likelihood of tackling cardiac procedures or space shuttle operations without harming other people or risking millions of dollars in damage if something goes wrong. AR makes this possible.
It is appropriate for all levels of education and training. AR isn’t restricted to just one use case or sector of application, whether it’s kindergarten learning activities or on-the-job training.
Challenges of augmented reality in education
Despite the benefits highlighted, there are a few problems to avoid when developing EdTech solutions with augmented reality:
A lack of required training. Some teachers may struggle to implement these new technologies since their background training may not provide the requisite abilities. Only the most open-minded teachers and forward-thinking educational institutions are ready to use augmented reality apps in the classroom.
Hardware dependency. Using augmented reality in the classroom necessitates a certain set of resources. Not all kids, for example, have smartphones that can run AR programmes.
Problems with content portability. The AR software you create must function properly across all platforms and devices. However, providing the same quality of AR material on each platform is nearly impossible.
How AR in education works
AR is a subset of the broader Extended Reality (XR) concept, which incorporates VR and MR technologies. Text, sound effects, visuals, and multimedia are used to augment the real-world environment in augmented reality. In other words, by layering digital content on top of a graphic depiction of the real world, AR provides us with an enhanced image of our immediate surroundings.
AR learning equipment could be as simple as smartphone cameras used to play the famous PokemonGo game. However, the hardware in AR glasses such as Google Glass, Dream Glass, and Vizux Blade may be more convenient for providing AR to consumers.
However, the AR content is created using AR software, which is still primarily produced for a specific AR-hardware vendor and frequently marketed in conjunction with an AR hardware kit. Augmented reality in education and training offers a wide range of applications and allows users to learn on the go with real-time instructions.
Augmented reality in education, examples and use cases
Contrary to popular assumption, AR technologies provide much more than just chasing Pokemon around town.
Here are a few excellent instances of augmented reality in teaching.
AR apps for kids
It’s no secret that children are early adopters of innovative technologies like augmented reality. Some of the most inventive augmented reality technology teaching apps are designed for children.
AR suppliers are developing apps inspired by the success of PokemonGo that will transform the way youngsters read books, gaze at art and posters, learn science, and do school lab experiments.
Augmentedย realityย in the classroom
The implementation of apps that use augmented reality in educational settings is most likely the most prevalent use of augmented reality in education. In this situation, they can assist the teacher in explaining a subject, providing a visual representation of the material, and allowing pupils to practise their understanding.
Specifically, an AR app can be found for practically any subject, including chemistry, geometry, biology, language, and even programming.
Marketing in education
AR technologies have enormous promise in marketing and advertising, as well as in education. A handful of universities in the United States are already employing augmented reality tours to increase enrollment and help new students navigate campus.
AR for museums
AR is increasingly being used to enhance the museum experience for today’s interactive audience. Museums can increase engagement and tourists’ interest in artistic or cultural heritage by adding AR content to things like as sculptures and paintings, historic artefacts, documents, and architectural landmarks.
One distinguishing feature of AR apps for museums is the ease with which AR content may be accessed using the smartphone camera.
AR for professional training
Nowadays, the typical shelf-life of a given professional skill is about five years, which means that organisations in both the corporate and government sectors must regularly educate and re-educate their staff.
How to use augmented reality in educationย fieldย ?
With companies like Apple and Google pushing AR technologies ahead, now may be the greatest moment to jump on board. Dedicated developer tools such as ARCore and ARKit, along with powerful hardware such as the iPhoneX, enable organisations to create effective AR-based EdTech solutions.
We would like to give you with a basic roadmap for AR development in education based on our considerable experience in this field:
Define your objective and target audience. The functionality of your app will vary depending on the age of your customers and the overall objective of the app.
To discover the true potential of the idea, conduct market research and viability testing.
Create a proof of concept to test the capabilities of the chosen tech stack (this is a suggested technique for breakthrough technologies such as AR and VR).
Create an MVP, or minimum viable product, to test the core functionality.
Iterate on the product till it is successful. Keep in mind that you will need to update the app on a regular basis with fresh AR material.
AR development in education: Lead the way of innovation or get left behind
As we can see, augmented reality has immense promise in education that has yet to be realised. With the current popularity of mobile technology and recent hardware advancements, augmented reality (AR) is becoming more accessible and widely used. As a result, it could be a good moment to take the first steps in this approach.ย
There has been an increase in Augmented Reality Companies recently that not only specialises in augmented reality in education but also apps that have augmented reality filter. Digitalfren is a company that also specialises in Augmented Reality Malaysia, where we work tirelessly to achieve your goals with you.ย
Join us for a free consultation today.ย