Evolution of the use of Augument Reality Tools in the Education Fied

Abstract

Augmented Reality technology (AR) has a huge potential to be applied in the education field. The coexistence of real and virtual environments enables experiences that would not be possible without this technology. Some of the reasons why AR learning experiences differ from other technology are: (i) it enables contextualized interaction between real and virtual worlds, (ii) it enables tangible interaction metaphors for object manipulation, and, finally, (iii) it enables smooth transition between the real and virtual contents. While AR offers new learning opportunities, it also creates new challenges for education in different domains, such as technological, learning and pedagogical issues. This work intends to provide some reflections about the challenges involved in the process of evaluating AR educational technologies. In order to better understand those issues, a systematic review was carried out aiming to identify how AR technology has been evaluated. Taking into account lessons learned during the review, a projective educational AR tool, especially designed to young children education, the ARBlocks, was evaluated. This tool was evaluated in the field of language learning with three different groups. The study involved the teacher as an instructional designer along with the use of multiple metrics. From the analysis of the ARBlocks in the classrooms, it was possible to observe that this tool offered different possibilities for language teaching to young children. The results obtained demonstrated that, in general, the ARblocks contributed to student’s learning and the practice and reinforcement of language abilities. From the reflections presented, some guidelines were proposed in order to assist the evaluation of AR educational tools. The use of multiple metrics as well as the active involvement of teachers in the elaboration of contents are encouraged as way to better understand the impact of technology in the teaching and learning process.