Augmented reality (AR) is a term for a live direct or an indirect view of a physical, real-world environment whose elements are augmented by computer-generated sensory input such as sound, video, graphics or GPS data. (Wikipedia)A very simple way of thinking of it is a video game. Its a simulation of some sort of real life situation or experience.
I talk often about design, the arts, and Career and Technology Education (CATE) because that is what I know. This is the world that I live in and as I think about all of the amazing programs and opportunities available at my technology school for students, my mind starts running wild with ALL of the perfect ways Augmented Reality could be implemented in CATE. Every program at my school is run like a real-world business or career field. My classroom is run like a design firm. Our carpentry class builds and entire house every single year just like a construction company would do. Our cosmetology students become state board certified through their program. Our nursing students become CNA's after the completion of their program. We ARE completely project-based and try to create as realistic of a job environment as possible for our students. It is quite obvious that augmented reality creates a realistic simulation of some sort of environment which can be beneficial to any sort of educational setting. However there are other benefits.
SAFETY. Safety is a HUGE concern in many of the program areas offered at my school (and many other schools across the country). Having some sort of augmented reality simulation for our firefighting students to learn the steps for rescue from a dangerous situation, our criminal justice students to learn the proper ways to disarm an offender, our welding students to learn how to use a new type of metal, and our emergency responder students to learn how to address and instigate a proper plan, would increase their experience and understanding without compromising their safety and overstepping the boundaries of a secondary school systems rules and regulations. For these students to have a successful career in these areas and make a positive difference in their community, they must be able to react calmly and quickly in intense and dangerous situations.
PRECISION. All of our students are given an opportunity to perform and practice their selected field. My students spend over 80% of their two years of classroom time with me on individual projects. All of our program areas are equipped with the proper tools and equipment to give the students an idea of what the career entails. However, a good bit of the time the practice our students get is on a small scale. Due to limited funding, time, and resources, we can only give our students a taste of what the 'real world' is like. With augmented reality, our students would be able to experience very detailed and in-depth situations and environments on a larger scale to increase their knowledge and understanding of their chosen career. Sports marketing students could create and oversee a national event rather than just organizing a school wide movie day. Small engine repair students could use augmented reality to examine and recondition a larger variety of items, such as motorized water crafts and motorcycles, instead of just the lawn mowers, smaller bikes, and 4-wheelers they see in class. Our students' knowledge base could be come much more refined and precise for post-graduation studies and jobs.
In closing I ask...what can augmented reality not do? Why would we NOT implement it in education? It could be an integral PART of our curriculums and would complement written exercises, projects, lecture and class discussion very well. No part is enough in it self....not even augmented reality because there is always going to be some exception to every rule and way, but it could be helpful nonetheless.
