Augmented Reality in Education: Practical Use Cases and Implementation Tips

According to the PwC "Seeing is Believing" report, augmenting reality in education has increased retention rates and results by up to 70 percent when compared with lectures using traditional methods; augmented reality also helps develop practical skills for medical education, engineering education and K-12 science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) through immersive three-dimensional simulations and contextual overlays. To be successful in the use of augmented reality in education, there should be clearly defined learning objectives, selection of appropriate devices, integration into a learning management system (LMS), and alignment of content development to curriculum requirements.

Schools and universities increasingly partner with an experienced education app development company to integrate immersive technologies into real academic workflows and ensure scalability, security, and measurable results. Below, we examine practical use cases of augmented reality in education and outline implementation strategies for decision-makers.

What Is Augmented Reality in Education?

Digital objects, including 3D models, animations and contextual directions, can be brought into the physical world using a smartphone, tablet or augmented reality (AR) glasses. This is done by overlaying these objects over the real world using AR.

Unlike virtual reality, which creates an entirely new environment, AR supplements the existing environment with additional digital elements. For example, a student studying biology may see a 3D model of a heart on top of their desk while working on a school project. Alternatively, a student studying history may be able to interact with a 3D model of the Parthenon.

Augmented reality is valuable to education leaders when it allows them to solve a specific instructional issue, such as making abstract scientific concepts easier to explain, providing a safe environment for hands-on practice in high-risk situations, increasing students' engagement, and using hybrid learning. The most important aspect of AR should always be the outcome of what is learned, not the visual excitement of the experience itself.

How Does AR Improve Learning Outcomes?

Augmented reality (AR) bolsters the learning experience through the development of contextual understanding and retention. A study conducted by PwC indicates that participants in an immersive learning environment feel a greater sense of self-efficacy as well as accelerate learning speed via the use of 3D interactive content relative to using static images accompanied by lengthy text explanations.

In addition to having an immersive experience while learning, students are able to actively engage with models instead of just passively absorbing information. In chemistry, for example, students are able to move molecules in real time; in physics, students can see a force simulation take place over a physical object in the real world.

Medical training institutions are using AR simulators to allow students to practice clinical skills in safe, controlled environments where traditional clinical training methods would pose a high-risk factor, but allow students to perform their skill sets repeatedly because they are learning within a safe environment.

When designing AR-enabled educational platforms, it is imperative that the development teams pay attention to the three pillars of successful instructional design: instructional logic, intuitive interaction, and process measurement. This means that the elements of visual immersion should only be used to enhance the learning experience while working towards consistent and measurable educational outcomes.

What Are the Most Practical AR Use Cases in Education?

The use of AR provides real, measurable benefits to several different types of education. 

For example, AR is used in K-12 STEM curriculum to assist students with learning geometry, performing physics experiments, and interacting with chemical lab experiences; all of which help them explore spatial relationships by manipulating objects versus memorizing them.

In addition to using AR for K-12 students, AR can also be integrated into medical education to allow nursing and medical students to explore the layers of anatomy and provide procedural training. By using AR, schools will be able to decrease their reliance on physical resources and still provide quality instruction. Compliance and security of the data become increasingly critical as it can be integrated into educational institutions' secure systems.

In technical and engineering training, AR is used to show students assembly instructions superimposed on the parts they are working on. This type of overlay allows the student to have a point of reference in order to understand how a piece of equipment works within a given context, by performing maintenance activities with the proper tools as if they were working in the field.

In addition to its numerous educational possibilities, AR has been used to recreate historical sites and environments, giving students the opportunity to immerse themselves in the narrative, rather than simply read about it in a book.

What Should You Consider Before Implementing AR in Education?

To successfully adopt AR technology in institutions requires strategic planning.

Institutions should start by having specific educational objectives. Identifying specific goals will help guide the direction of future development decisions, such as improving comprehension of anatomy or decreasing laboratory equipment costs.

Hardware selection determines how accessible AR will be and the cost efficiency of that AR technology; tablet-based augmented reality is typically the first choice for AR hardware because they require a lower investment to implement, while using augmented reality glasses will provide hands-free capabilities but will come at a greater investment.

WebAR technology eliminates many barriers to installation, however, it may limit the performance of the AR technology.

When integrated into learning management systems, AR modules can provide measurable tracking of progress and structured assessment to students.

The quality of the content created will determine the overall effectiveness of an AR program in the long run; therefore, working with SME's, Instructional Designers, and UX Specialists will ensure alignment of immersive scenarios with curriculum standards.

When planning for AR technology, scalability ensures that the investment will retain its value over time; utilities such as cloud-based infrastructures to host and provide access to the virtual content as well as cross platform compatibility and how content will be updated, will all contribute to the long-term sustainability of AR technology.

What Are the Challenges of AR in Education?

Individuals involved in decision-making should consider: initial cost of development; costs associated with training teachers to use it; complexity of producing content; and how they will manage/maintain the i.e., "return on investment" for reuse of AR through multiple academic years vs. R&D if custom developed than buying a prebuilt solution. This would require additional research.

How to Start an AR Education Project

Typically, institutions start with a needs analysis to determine available learning resources. After that, measurable KPIs are created, and a Minimum Viable Course AR Learning Object is created and piloted with a small group of users before larger-scale deployment.

Next, user and learner feedback will provide guidance on the best ways to iterate and scale the overall project.

Project teams can use Agile methodology to deliver early, develop validated experiences with users via prototyping, and use hard data to improve product features throughout the development process.

Final Thoughts

If AR is tied to actual instructional challenges (as opposed to just adding 'wow' factor), it can provide measurable benefits in education. The experience of AR will increase student engagement, enhance knowledge retention, and allow students to conduct realistic and safe practical training.

By strategically implementing AR and connecting to their existing system, educational institutions will be able to compete effectively over the long term.