The Solution
Introducing the ARLab Mobile App
In light of increased online science education, and the current gaps in that education, ARLab has been imagined.
The ARLab app focus is virtual, engaging labs that include practice of theory, hands-on labs, and collaboration.
In attempt to do so while being a strong open and mobile resource, it combines the strengths of:
augmented reality
gamification
social media
Augmented Reality
How does it fill in the gaps?
Lab safety concerns. Lab safety procedures can be learnt and experienced virtually, without students being put in danger.
Equipment. Students do not need to obtain expensive and potentially dangerous substances and equipment
Hands on. Unlike many current online labs, augmented reality allows students to practice their hand skills.
Practice. Theory is applied in a kinesthetic practice approach.
What does the research say?
Augmented technology enhances the development of lab skills
Students report positive attitude towards augmented reality science labs (Akçayır et al., 2016)
What does it look like?
Schools are already using augmented reality technology as a learning supplement
Ryerson has succesfully created an augmented reality science app
Many of the aspects in Ryerson Augmented Reality will be used in ARApp
projections of holographic lab equipment, that you can interact with
students can make mistakes, and get real time feedback
Gamification
How does it fill the gaps?
Lack of Motivation is reported in online education programs (Yates et al., 2021)
Gamification increases motivation and student learning performance (Yates et al., 2021)
Adding to the current technologies
Ryerson augmented reality is designed for university students.
Students are enrolled in the course because of a motivation to be there. This is not the case for many secondary students.
Adding an element of gamification will motivate younger public school students (and university students), who may not have intrinsic motivation to learn science skills
What does it look like?
There will be multiple labs that students gain points for finishing. They also gain points for precision and accuracy.
After a certain number of points, you level up.
Each level unlocks new equipment, and therefore, new labs.
There is a public score board with all users, and a private score board for students enrolled in a class.
Social
How does it fill the gaps?
Collaboration. Adding the ability in the app for teacher to student, student to teacher, and student to student interaction, allows for in-person quality of collaboration.
What does it look like?
Lab Partners
Option for students to sync their phones so that they can do the steps of the augmented reality labs together
Video conferencing on the screen
Lab Teacher
Option for lab teachers to sync their phones with students and talk the students through each step
Video conferencing on screen
Bulletin Board
Students and teachers can discuss questions and thoughts about individual labs
Open & Mobile
This app is a tool for online science educators. It fills in the gaps to match the level of education that can be provided in person.
In addition, this app has learning potential beyond the typical in-person science education can provide.
Students can
learn at their own pace and time
can re-do science experiments until they fully grasp the processes
can perform experiments that would be impossible within constraints of a classroom (time, cost, etc.)