Remote learning has opened doors for many students worldwide to access top-tier and specialized education. It has also allowed companies to reduce costs and maximize instructors’ and employees’ time spent on training. While all of this sounds promising, there is a catch.
Distance education comes with its own set of challenges, with learner engagement being the most significant hurdle today. Sitting in front of the computer, learners often encounter numerous distractions and difficulty maintaining focus. Moreover, remote learning may not be the most effective method for acquiring practical skills. This is where augmented reality (AR) comes into play.
What is augmented reality in learning?
Augmented reality in education is an approach that integrates digital information and virtual elements into the real-world environment to enhance the learning experience. It overlays computer-generated content, such as images, videos, 3D models, and interactive holograms, onto the physical world, usually viewed through a device like a smartphone, tablet, or AR headset. It is worth noting that there is a significant difference between AR and VR in learning.
The most significant advantage of augmented reality learning is that students can interact with and manipulate digital objects within their immediate surroundings, making complex or abstract concepts more tangible and understandable. AR provides them with real-world context and practical application of knowledge, bridging the gap between theory, acquired during standard courses, and practice.
Augmented reality for education can be used in various contexts, such as university education and professional development.
Revolution in remote learning
As learners and businesses have already experienced its numerous benefits, there’s no turning back from distance learning. It was a revolutionary shift in our approach to education, which, for some, seemed unimaginable.
What we are witnessing today is “the second revolution” in learning, brought about by the introduction of augmented reality. This technology is transforming distance education in some significant ways:
Interactivity
AR brings interactive and immersive elements to remote learning, making educational content more engaging and requiring active participation. The use of multimedia content, such as videos, holograms, and interactive quizzes, leads to better understanding and retention of information.
Visualization
AR helps learners to visualize and understand complex concepts that may be challenging to grasp through traditional teaching methods. For instance, in corporate training, employees can interact with 3D models of machines to explore their features.
Real-world context
AR allows trainers to provide learners with real-world context and hands-on experience, even when they are physically distant. It helps bridge the gap between theoretical learning and practical application of knowledge.
Personalization
AR offers a unique opportunity to customize the learning pace according to individual needs and progress. It is particularly crucial for on-the-job training, which, in traditional courses, is often constrained by specific time and location. With AR, learners have the flexibility to practice and refine their practical skills until they are confident that they have mastered them.
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Examples of augmented reality in learning
Augmented reality and education go arm in arm in supporting learners and businesses in their lifelong development. Here are some examples of how AR can be applied that illustrate the versatility of AR in remote learning and distance education:
- Conducting remote experiments and simulations
- Providing virtual field trips
- Using virtual equipment
- Testing 3D models and prototypes
- Placing designs within real-world spaces
- Undergoing preliminary medical and machinery training
- Displaying data, structures, and context information in natural environments
- Simulating physical laws and mechanical systems.
How to make the most of augmented reality in education and training?
Augmented reality is an efficient learning tool on its own. However, when seamlessly integrated with a Learning Management System (LMS), it becomes a powerful solution for making AR training traceable and manageable. An example of an LMS that supports AR content is Samelane.
With the right LMS platform, you can:
- Develop AR content on your own or source it
- Update AR training content
- Track learner progress and performance
- Conduct learner assessment
- Evaluate learners objectively
- Generate extensive AR training reports
- Scale by adding new users in no time
- Gather feedback.
Wrap-up
Augmented reality revolutionizes remote learning and distance education by making it more engaging, interactive, and scalable. As technology advances, we can expect even more innovative applications of AR in the educational sector.
To find out more about the solution, try our AR platform for free for 14 days!
