Learning about Augmented Reality for the Classroom

Augmented reality is finding its way into more and more classrooms today. Mobile devices and the augmented reality apps that are available are a major reason for this. Educators are discovering that students find the use of augmented reality to be engaging... whether they are the consumers or the creators of the AR (augmented reality) activities.

Insect Exhibit in the Barrett Discovery Lab / Laurie Sullivan / CC BY 2.0

Today's tools--Aurasma, Layar, and others--make it relatively easy for teachers and students to create augmented reality experiences with computers and/or mobile devices.

I am selecting resources to create an augmented reality unit for an upcoming summer workshop (see the last three weeks' posts and here and here) to help the workshop participants understand the value and benefits of using augmented reality in the classroom. I searched (How Do You Search for Information on a Topic?) for appropriate resources for this unit... and found teachers who shared their classroom experiences and the engaging apps they used.

The workshop materials for augmented reality that I chose fit these categories:

• introduction,
• apps,
• classroom uses, and
• collections of materials to follow as the field of augmented reality in education continues to grow.

DIY Augmented Reality, MoMA NY / sndrv / CC BY 2.0

Introduction to Augmented Reality

Videos…

Augmented Reality 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7YyjDOZL9s 
introduction to AR (augmented reality), with a bit of humor

Augmented Reality in Plain English 
http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2010/05/augmented-reality-in-plain-english.html 
link to CommonCraft introduction to AR

The Future of Augmented Reality 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnRJaHZH9lo 
designed for business and marketing, good examples

General Overview…

7 Ways Augmented Reality Will Improve Your Life 
http://mashable.com/2012/12/19/augmented-reality-city/ 
(non-education) examples of AR

Educators’ Introduction…

Teachers’ Guide to Augmented Reality 
http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2013/06/teachers-guide-to-augmented-reality.html

AR Apps / Jo Schiffbauer / CC BY 2.0

Apps

Lists… 
See *Chart (at the end of this post) for combined list of individual apps in these articles…

8 Excellent Augmented Reality Apps for iPad 
http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2013/01/8-excellent-augmented-reality-apps-for.html

10 Best Augmented Reality Apps 
http://www.techapna.com/augmented-reality-apps/887/

Top 20 Augmented Reality Apps for Android and iPhone/iPad Users 
http://deepknowhow.com/2013/04/04/top-20-augmented-reality-apps-for-android-and-iphoneipad-users/

5 Uses of Augmented Reality In Education 
http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2013/07/best-of-2013-so-far-5-uses-of-augmented.html

Best Augmented Reality Apps 
http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/best-augmented-reality-apps/#!OQGcf

Aurasma… 
All worth viewing…

Image Recognition That Triggers Augmented Reality 
http://www.ted.com/talks/matt_mills_image_recognition_that_triggers_augmented_reality

Tons of Classroom Examples Using Augmented Reality with @Aurasma - A Complete How-To Guide! 
http://www.kleinspiration.com/2013/05/using-augmented-reality-via-aurasma-in.html

Use Aurasma to Create Augmented Reality Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Activities
http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2014/01/use-aurasma-to-create-augmented-reality.html#.U4LKbvbUWuE

ColAR Mix… 
Both have good features…

App of the Week that teaches augmented reality 
http://www.coolcatteacher.com/colar-mix/

The Coloring Book of the Future Uses Augmented Reality 
http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2013/07/the-coloring-book-of-future-uses.html#.U4LO9fbUWuE

Elements4D…

Elements4D - Exploring Chemistry with Augmented Reality 
http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2014/02/elements4d-exploring-chemistry-with.html

Fetch! Lunch Rush!...

Fetch! Lunch Rush! - An Augmented Reality Math Game 
http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2012/09/fetch-lunch-rush-augmented-reality-math.html

Smash Cards…

Smash Cards - Augmented Reality Flashcards 
http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2011/05/smash-cards-augmented-reality.html#.U4LQBvbUWuE

ZooBurst…

ZooBurst - 3D Augmented Reality Books 
http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2010/05/zooburst-3d-augmented-reality-books.html

Insect Exhibit in the Barrett Discovery Lab / Laurie Sullivan / CC BY 2.0

Classroom Uses 
Examples of how teachers are using augmented reality in the classroom…

Augmented Reality Brings New Dimensions to Learning 
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/augmented-reality-new-dimensions-learning-drew-minock

Augmented Reality in Education 
http://augmentedrealityeducation.blogspot.com/

How Augmented Reality Can Change Teaching 
http://gettingsmart.com/2012/12/how-augmented-reality-can-change-teaching/

Five Apps for Getting Started with Augmented Reality in Education 
https://www.appolearning.com/advisor/articles/008-five-apps-for-getting-started-with-augmented-reality-in-education

Good Ideas for Using Augmented Reality in Elementary School Math and Reading
http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2014/05/good-ideas-for-using-augmented-reality.html#.U4LR0_bUWuE

How Augmented Reality (AR) Can Be Great for Math Class: Learning Goals
http://tapintoteenminds.com/2013/11/17/how-augmented-reality-ar-can-be-great-for-math/

Putting augmented reality into practice | eSchool News 
http://www.eschoolnews.com/2013/11/18/augmented-reality-practice-131/

A Door Knocker Collection from GPCastel / Pierre Metivier / CC BY-NC 2.0

Collections

Wiki by Karen E. Hamilton… Augmented Reality in Education 
http://augmented-reality-in-education.wikispaces.com/

Two Guys and Some iPads… blog with multiple pages (i.e., categories)
http://www.twoguysandsomeipads.com/

Pinterest pins… Augmented Reality in Education 
http://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=augmented%20reality%20in%20education

Cybrary Man’s Educational Web Sites…Augmented Reality 
http://cybraryman.com/augmentedreality.html

Flipboard Magazine by Terri Eichholz… Augmented Reality in Education 
https://flipboard.com/section/augmented-reality-in-education-brgZbu

Kathy Schrock's Guide to Everything... Augmented Reality in the Classroom
http://www.schrockguide.net/augmented-reality.html

Blog by Nedim and Wanju… Augmented Reality in Education 
http://www.arined.org/

iTunes… [download iTunes if you do not already have it] search in the iTunes Store for augmented reality and augmented reality in education to find apps, books, courses, materials, and podcasts
https://www.apple.com/itunes/

__________

If I find that these resources are not sufficient in some areas, I will look for additional appropriate materials as follows.

TWITTER
Search for augmented reality 
Search for #AR

SCOOP.IT! 
Examine Augmented Reality in Education curated by James Kapptie

LIVEBINDERS 
Search for augmented reality

YOUTUBE 
Search for augmented reality 
Search for augmented reality in education

__________

*CHART OF INDIVIDUAL APPS FOUND IN APPS / Lists

3D Compass+ 
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.a0soft.gphone.aCompassPlus

AcrossAir 
http://www.acrossair.com/

Anatomy 4D 
http://4danatomy.com/

AR Invaders 
http://invaders.soulbit7.com/

ARBasketball 
http://augmentedpixels.com/project/ar-basketball/

Augment 
http://augmentedev.com/

Augmented Car Finder 
http://www.augmentedworks.com/app/find-your-car-with-ar-augmented-car-finder/

Augmented Colors 
http://www.windowsphone.com/en-us/store/app/augmented-colors/f785cf96-eb18-4860-9980-f9b922f4282d

ColAR Mix 
http://colarapp.com/

Fetch! Lunch Rush! 
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/fetch!-lunch-rush/id469089331?mt=8

GeoGoggle 
http://appcrawlr.com/android/geogoggle

Google Goggles 
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.unveil

Google Ingress 
http://www.ingress.com/

Google Sky Map 
http://www.google.com/mobile/skymap/

iOnRoad 
http://www.ionroad.com/

Junaio 
http://www.junaio.com/

Layar 
https://www.layar.com/

Lookator 
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.loft.lookator2

Satellite AR 
http://satellite-ar.soft112.com/

Science AR 
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/science-ar/id587192926?mt=8

SnapShop 
http://www.snapshopinc.com/

Spacecraft 3D 
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/spacecraft-3d/id541089908?mt=8

SpecTrek 
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.spectrekking.full

Spyglass 
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/spyglass/id332639548?mt=8

Star & Planet Finder 
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/star-planet-finder/id361753588?mt=8

Star Chart 
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/star-chart/id345542655?mt=8

Star Walk 
http://vitotechnology.com/star-walk.html

Sun Seeker
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sun-seeker-3d-augmented-reality/id330247123?mt=8

TagWhat 
http://www.tagwhat.com/

The Getty 
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/the-getty/id538459960?mt=8

Theodolite 
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/theodolite/id339393884?mt=8

Wikitude 
http://www.wikitude.com/

Yelp 
http://www.yelp.com/yelpmobile

ZooBurst 
http://www.zooburst.com/

__________

Will I use ALL these resources in the workshop? Most likely not. However resources that do not become part of the workshop activities may find themselves in a list provided for the participants to access on their own during the workshop or later.

These sites should help facilitate some interesting and useful discussions. How do you help other educators discover the benefits of using augmented reality?