How many of us remember learning Maths or History in school? How was your experience? It really depended on how engaging the teacher was, right? That was the main thing. I’m sure it still is, but teachers, professors and trainers in companies now have other tools that make the learners experience more attractive and engaging.
Some years ago, I lectured for several years in a couple of higher education institutions in London. Something I really enjoyed doing. However, I must say that as an educator I would have loved to be able to show to my students some of the content I was teaching in AR and VR. It would have been a great tool to help them grasp some abstract concepts I had to share and to enhance the classroom experience, helping students to learn by doing, by experiencing.
And that’s why I would like to share some interesting examples using XR (Extended Realities) within the education sector below:
Let’s bear in mind that XR encompasses several different technologies, including 360 cameras, virtual and augmented reality, just to name a few. These are combined in order to generate an engaging way to connect, learn and interact.
1. AR app Photomath allows students to scan a maths problem from a physical worksheet, then virtually walks them through calculation steps using animation. This sort of tool sparks students’ curiosity, helping them to research, be independent and to learn critical thinking.
2. Students and teachers can now experience history interactively using AR technology, with tools such as Timelooper. These are the virtual visits I would have loved to have when I was in school and we could not go on a trip to see some of these places. Now students can view them and get a taste of the cultural and historical importance.
3. In Higher Education there are some great examples in Medicine. Medical training is being completely transformed due to AR and VR. Students can learn about anatomy through AR in a hyper realistic way, as well as watching live surgeries, which is a massive help for students and doctors teaching them, minimising risks for patients and maximising learning for students. This is the example of Holo-Human, an AR app that provides space to students to explore human anatomy models and to teachers to create lessons plans. It also includes the possibility of internal 360-degree views.
4. Astronomy is another area where XR Solutions and education are making a great impact. Imagine you see, identify and learn in an immersive environment about stars and constellations in real time! This app also offers daily statistics and astronomy news and facts: Star Walk
5. Lastly, Art History, my favourite. This was my major in University and I would have died to see some of the work from other Museums around the world, get immersed in those pieces from all over the world! I was lucky enough to see some of them but it is practically impossible to have the opportunity to see them all and especially to spend enough time with the artwork itself to explore it and analyse it in depth. Boulevard AR brings artwork from the National Portrait Gallery and provides a live Museum experience to anywhere.
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