When I first heard about augmented reality, I assumed it was a headpiece that allowed you to enter a game and become more interactive with it; however, there is more to AR than that. AR, or Agumentative reality, is an interactive experience that allows you to see the virtual world using advanced technology ranging from a headpiece to your phone. "real-time use of information in the form of text, graphics, audio and other virtual enhancements integrated with real-world objects. It is this 'real world' element that differentiates AR from virtual reality." ("Definition of augmented reality (AR) - Gartner information technology glossary," n.d.).
When it comes to understanding agumentative reality, I can give you more definitions and more of what the books have to say, but to understand more in terms of examples and diving deeper, watch this Mashable video, "What is Agumentative Reality and How Does It Work?" Gives a great explanation and examples that I did not know were considered AR, such as Snapchat, which I use on a daily basis.
Speaking of examples, when I was thinking about what could be considered AR, my thoughts turned to VR and the headsets and headpieces that are being used. However, based on what I've learned, AR examples are similar to VR but with a twist. Speaking of examples, when I was thinking about what could be considered AR, my thoughts turned to VR and the headsets and headpieces that are being used. However, based on what I've learned, AR examples are similar to VR but with a twist. AR represents a CG image on the user's device, whereas VR employs computer-generated technology. AR maintains the world's focus while adding elements that are not intended to improve it. Snapchat, Pokemon GO, Interior Decoration Apps, and many more are examples of AR that can be qualified. Check out this website, "11 Examples of Argumentative Reality in Everyday Life," to learn more about apps and how to incorporate them into your classroom.
Tinkercard is a great tool to use if you want to teach your students how to use a 3D printer and give them the opportunity to create any object they want. There is also a step-by-step program that teaches your students and even you how to use Tinkercard. I was given the opportunity to work with Tinkercard on an assignment in which I had to design a prototype daisy for an agricultural company looking for a low-cost model to present to investors.
Merge cube is an app and object that allows you to scan the cube, connect it to your tinkercard, and view the creation you've built with tinkercard. This is an excellent opportunity for you to use a more visual aspect of AR to showcase the work of your students and even yourself. I was given the opportunity to use merge cube while working on the prototype daisy assignment. I was able to see my prototype daisy and correct any flaws, such as the stem being too long. My twitter account is an example of this.
Overall, Augmented Reality is a fantastic tool to use in the classroom to increase student engagement, hands-on activities, communication, and a fun way to incorporate a new topic and allow them to see cool reality without having to pay for VR headsets. The journey with AR has allowed me to better understand what it is, how to differentiate between AR and VR, the variety of apps and tools I could incorporate into my classroom, and the overall app I use. I strongly encourage future educators and current teachers to incorporate augmented reality into their lessons, to participate in online tours and skill practice, and with more technology advancement, I believe AR would be used heavily in classrooms.
11 examples of augmented reality in everyday life. (2020, November 23). StudiousGuy – Your Study Buddy. https://studiousguy.com/examples-augmented-reality/
Definition of augmented reality (AR) - Gartner information technology glossary. (n.d.). Gartner. https://www.gartner.com/en/information-technology/glossary/augmented-reality-ar
Mashable. (2015, November 19). What is Augmented Reality and How Does it Work? | Mashable Explains. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XX993jgeQ0M