Augmented reality could change education in the future
Augmented reality may have promising implications for the world of education. The technology is most commonly seen in entertainment and marketing, but it has been gaining attention in other, more pragmatic fields recently. Consumers have shown that they have a strong interest in augmented reality; an interest that is most apparent among younger consumers that have grown up during the advent of mobile technology. Because of the interest that young people are showing toward the technology, its uses in education are beginning to gain more attention from schools in the United Kingdom.
Mobile devices are very common with young consumers
According to a report from Policy Exchange, an educational charity based in the UK, approximately 71% of people between the ages of 16 and 24 own smart phones. Despite the prevalence of mobile technology throughout the United Kingdom, the use of devices like smart phones and tablets in schools is often discouraged, with those using such devices in classrooms being regarded as delinquents. These devices can be powerful tools for education, however, especially if they make use of interactive technologies like augmented reality.
Universities show interest in augmented reality
Augmented reality is no stranger to the world of education. The University of Manchester has been making use of augmented reality for years through its Scarlet project, which provides students with access to rare books and manuscripts through their mobile devices. City University London also has a program in place called Creating Augmented Reality in Education (CARE), which addressing health care issues that students have. Over the past year, more schools throughout the UK have been showing interest in augmented reality to help dismantle the stigma that surrounds the use of mobile devices in classrooms.
Interactive technology may make education more effective
Most of the augmented reality initiatives coming from UK universities involve the use of QR codes. The codes can be scanned by a smart phone or tablet to activate an augmented reality experience. QR codes have proven very useful in this way because they offer easy access to digital content. Augmented reality may help usher in a new era for education, one that is more capable of teaching students because it can engage them through a medium that is nearly universal with all consumers: Mobile technology.
