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.)