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🧊 What It Is
The Merge Cube is a handheld augmented reality (AR) tool that allows students to hold and interact with 3D digital objects in the palm of their hand using a smartphone or tablet. It looks like a soft foam cube, but when viewed through compatible apps, it becomes a virtual object viewer for simulations, models, and interactive experiences.
đź’ˇ How It Works
Students use a tablet or smartphone camera with a compatible app (like Merge EDU apps).
The app recognizes the cube and overlays 3D digital content onto it.
As students rotate or move the cube, the digital object moves with it.
They can explore objects from all angles—like holding a human heart, planet, or artifact.
Apps allow students to:
Zoom in/out
Interact with layers (e.g., inside the body or Earth)
Run simulations or view animations
There are a few free sessions. However, there is a paid subscription to Merge as well. Lance and Pleasant Prairie have paid accounts.
🎯 Wisconsin ITL Standards
Innovative Design (ID)The Merge Cube is a powerful tool for structured design, particularly when students move from viewing objects to creating their own 3D models to upload to the cube.- ID1.a.e (Identify and Solve Problems): At the Exploring level, students use the Merge Cube to observe 3D solutions to "real-world" problems, such as viewing a model of a water filtration system.
- ID1.c.d (Develop, Test, and Refine): At the Developing level, students can design a 3D object in a tool like Tinkercad and "test" it on the Merge Cube. They use systematic testing to see if their design looks and functions as intended in a 3D space and revise the "prototype" based on what they see.
- ID1.d.i (Demonstrate Resilience): At the Implementing level, students solve complex, open-ended problems by designing multi-part AR experiences. They must persist through setbacks—such as scaling issues or file compatibility—to create a functional AR artifact.
- IA1.a.e (Investigate Emerging Technologies): Students identify the Merge Cube as a tool and describe its general purpose—using a physical marker to trigger a digital overlay.
- IA1.b.d (Customize Environment): Students select and adapt tools by choosing which Merge Explorer "card" or app best supports their specific learning goal for a project.
- IA3.b.i (Create Artifacts): Students create a complex and original artifact by building their own 3D museum or scientific model and using the Merge Cube to present that information to an audience in a "purposeful" way.
- EC.1.a.e (Purpose of Communication): Students use the Cube to "state the main message" of a lesson—for example, rotating a 3D heart to show how blood flows through different chambers.
- EC.3.b.d (Evaluate and Revise): Students analyze feedback from peers who view their AR creation. If the audience finds the 3D model confusing or hard to see, the student proposes specific revisions to the design to make the communication more effective.
- GC1.b.d (Contribute Constructively): Students contribute and commit to team goals by determining roles in a 3D design project (e.g., one student is the "Lead Modeler," another is the "Researcher," and another is the "AR Presenter").
- GC2.b.e (Investigate Solutions): Teams "work together to understand issues" (like how to represent a historical landmark in 3D) and recommend solutions through collaborative digital tools.
🎓 Educational Benefits
Deeper Understanding of Abstract Concepts
Deeper Understanding of Abstract Concepts
Makes invisible or complex ideas visible and interactive
Great for topics like:
Human anatomy
Space and planets
Molecules and cells
Hands-On STEM Learning
Encourages exploration and inquiry-based learning
Students learn by manipulating and investigating objects
Engagement & Motivation
Highly engaging—feels like “holding” digital content
Appeals to visual and kinesthetic learners
Cross-Curricular Integration
Science: anatomy, geology, space
Social Studies: artifacts, geography
Math: 3D shapes and spatial reasoning
ELA: descriptive writing and observation
Collaboration & Discussion
Students work together to explore and discuss what they see
Encourages questioning, observation, and explanation
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