Criteria and Content for Participating in the Blog
Directions: The
questions listed below provide a springboard for investigating together
(1) new technologies, (2) instructional uses of the technologies, and
(3) ways these technologies can be used to solve real-world problems.
· Discuss instructional methods for teaching and learning.
· Discuss ways this technology be used to solve real-world problems.
·
Discuss computing capabilities needed to use the technology (hardware
and software) and ways to prevent these issues becoming a determent to
classroom instruction.
· Discuss how blogs can facilitate global learning and cultural understanding
Test Comment Two.
ReplyDeleteWow! I felt like I stepped into the future when I read your blog. Augmented reality definitely reminds me of things I have only seen in the movies! My daughter and I printed the marker from the GE site and explored the wind turbines and solar panels. We especially enjoyed blowing into our microphone to make the turbines spin faster. Thinking about educational applications, augmented reality will bring physical content to life and allow students to interact with their environment in personal ways. A deeper level of learning occurs when there is increased engagement and interaction. Field trips can become highly personal journeys if augmented technology can be accessed from student's smartphones to gather additional information about what they are viewing. It's almost like everyone having their own personal tour guide. In addition, job training such as fire fighting and medicine can be enhanced by giving participants realistic training scenarios without the risk. I found this interesting article about how augmented reality can be incorporated into the cars we drive. Check it out!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.wired.com/autopia/2012/01/gm-windows-of-opportunity/
Thank you for reading my blog. I checked out the GM Augmented Reality website. It is great. I remember being in the car for family vacations and I kept asking my dad if we were there yet because I was bored. This takes traveling by car to a whole new level. If I had a car like this, I don't think I would want to drive, I would want to be a passenger and interact with the window the whole time.
DeleteI didn't try blowing into the microphone for the GE site, so now I have to go back and try that. Thanks for the great site.
Elizabeth, I am visiting your site, reading your web blog. Dr. W
ReplyDeleteThis is an amazing technology. I can think of many ways that this technology can be integrated into the classroom and into the business world. elizabeth does a great job in giving details of how this technology has helped companies like Boeing to create a better work condition.
ReplyDeleteI would love to use augmented reality in my classroom. I can just imagine students graphing in three dimensional spaces!
In the real world, this technology would be great for map making and other classroom activities that require depth and perception characteristics.
The computing technology may be an issue as additional space may be needed for storage for a large program. Perhaps if we incorporate cloud computing with augmented reality, we may have a winning combination.
I love the idea of cloud computing with augmented reality, even though I think that may be pretty far in the future. But I like the fact that most of the programs that run augmented reality are free. The cool thing is that ever since I created this blog I find myself hearing about new products that are being created using Augmented Reality. So maybe cloud computing with augmented reality isn't that far in the future after all.
DeleteI was just watching "Attack of the Show" on G4 and they talked about Google creating Augmented Reality glasses. So I decided to look it up. I found two great sites about the glasses if anyone is interested.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.mobilemag.com/2012/02/07/google-working-on-augmented-reality-goggles/
http://www.technologyreview.com/computing/26692/
How cool! I loved watching the videos and learning about this technology. To imagine a future where we wear special contacts or glasses to experience this augmented reality on a daily basis is mind blowing. I imagine the educational uses for this type of technology are endless. It is a constant goal of teachers to engage our students in the curriculum. If students were able to use augmented reality while learning how could they not be engaged? While reading your blog I thought about a recent example provided by Dr. Williamson in regards to QR codes. She mentioned how students, while researching rocks, could use their phones to scan a QR code attached to the rock and receive all the necessary information about that type of rock. As cool as I think that is, with augmented reality, students wouldn’t even need a QR code. Can you imagine having your students simply put on a pair of glasses to view all the information associated with whatever they were researching?
ReplyDeletePutting on glasses to view all of the information about rocks would be amazing! All of my students would be engaged and interacting with technology! That would be so cool. Also Dr. Williamson talked about creating your own QR codes. How could would it be to create your own marker and add information about what you are teaching to them? Thank you for your comment.
DeleteUntil reading your blog I didn’t fully understand the difference between virtual reality and augmented reality. Augmented reality is much closer to reality than most may think. I love that there are some websites out there that have an augmented reality of art museums and places to visit. This is great for students- they can go overseas through the augmented reality to the museums available. I am very excited for more augmented realities for educational purposes to develop such as the museums that I have seen in Google Art Project.
ReplyDeleteSince augmented reality is so realistic, it will definitely play a part in developing students for solving real world problems. I feel that technology will continue to evolve to support augmented reality and it may be pricey for schools which may be the downside.
Augmented reality can support global learning and cultural understanding by allowing the learning to be in various environments and places outside of their own.
It took me a little while to really grasp what the difference between virtual reality and augmented reality were too. I did lots of research to make sure that I fully understood what augmented reality was.
DeleteYou also mentioned art museums and I found some videos of how artists are now creating their art work using augmented reality. There are museums that are filled with different markers that hold artists artwork on them. So the visitors hold up their phones to see that artwork in 3D. Here are the links if you would like to take a look.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9T2LVM7ynM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqwszsSIrLc
Hi Elizabeth,
ReplyDeleteThe videos you found did a great job of explaining Augmented Reality. Honestly, I didn't know AR was different from virtual reality. It is an amazing technology that has a lot to offer the field of education. You posted a video of images moving in a textbook, which would create a love of reading for many students that despise the act of reading -my brother is one of those children. :( Through the use of AR, having the pictures in a textbook move really creates a more meaningful learning experience for the students. For example, in science and social studies, students are given fact after fact, but more often than not those facts just become another fact. With AR students could internalize what that fact truly means. If students were learning about Cheetahs and how fast they run, it would be incredible for students to view a clip of a Cheetah running through AR as they were reading the fact in their textbook. Through AR facts are no longer just that. Facts become meaningful pieces of information that students retain and develop a stronger understanding for. The possiblities for AR are absolutely endless! What a cool technology!
I thought the books were awesome too. I know that books especially in social studies can be very boring for students, but if there was a video clip of the Gold Rush, then the students would be more likely to remember and internalize the facts. The only draw back is that the price for these kinds of materials can be very expensive. So I am hoping as the technology become more popular and more books are created using augmented reality then the price will come down. Great comment. Thanks.
DeleteLike Kim and Shannon, I too was a little unclear about the differences between augmented reality and virtual reality. Elizabeth, after reading your blog and viewing your videos I was finally able to explain it to my husband in a way that it made sense, especially as it related to how it could be used to solve real world problems. You shared examples of augmented reality being used in complicated ways such as doctors practicing or performing surgeries. You also shared simple ways that augmented reality may be used such as an individual looking for restaurant reviews by pointing their cell phone camera at an eatery. I also loved seeing the example of the augmented reality online shopping experience where you would be able to actually see how clothes looked on your body. The real world applications for this technology are limitless.
ReplyDeleteObviously this the technology is still improving but what I found interesting about it is that for such an advanced form of technology it is already fairly easy and inexpensive for anyone to try. Elizabeth mentioned that you can already download some augmented reality software programs for free and since most of us already have a computer with a camera and access to the Internet we would be able to try some of the free programs rather effortlessly. However, as this technology is implemented in other ways, such as in textbooks, I could see a large increase in cost that might be difficult to afford, especially in our current economy.
When I first started researching this topic, I could only think of educational ways to use AR. But I started to talking to my boyfriend who is a BMW mechanic, he introduced me to the technology they are using in their cars. This led to me find all of the other real world applications. I think augmented is very versatile and can be used throughout the world and for various topics, so many people can relate to it.
DeleteElizabeth,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for taking the time to dive so far into depth with Augmented Reality. It was one of the trends I was really unsure of! Your blog really helped me understand what it is and the AMAZING potential it has!
Like most, I too was trying to wrap my head around the differences between virtual reality and augmented reality. I kept thinking about Tom Hanks in Angels and Demons where he "moved" his throughts around with his hands but I know that was just the way the movie was made to accurately capture what was described in the book. That did not happen in his character's reality. But when you mentioned Mission Impossible, it reminded me of "Person of Interest", a show on cable where the character just has to "look around" and he sees information on everyone such as their Social Security Number.
Even when I read the Lego demonstration I thought, okay you scan something and it shows you what it will look like but then when I watched the video and saw that it was capturing the people in real time I was floored! Even with the other videos where the people were showing the piece of paper infront of their computer and images were 3-D! Most fascinating of all, they controlled what was on the computer screen by positioning and turning the "object". My big question is, where did they get those black and white codes?! I teach the digestive system so that part of the video really stood out to me.
I now understand that Augmented Reality is truly a mix of real and digital worlds, real time, 3-D, and VERY interactive.
I am so excited now to know the endless possibilities this trend can bring to my classroom and I cannot wait to get my hands on some of it!! I think students will find much deeper understanding if I can augment reality right in front of them in the real time that we are experiencing the material. Also someone mentioned making field trips possible, this is true! But even allowing students to "go" on a field trip, like Shannon showed us earlier, to somewhere that is across the world. Imagine the cultural understanding that could come from students who had a chance to "visit" places outside the US through Augmented Reality.
Thank you for reading my blog. It sounds like you are just as excited about Augmented Reality as I am. I Googled AR markers and some websites have them for you to print out. If you go to the GE website, it will have you download the markers and the application. Just make sure when you print the cards it is on white paper and you leave some white paper around the marker. But the books you have to buy in order to get the markers. I hope this helps.
DeleteAll of the web 2.0 technologies that we have learned about in the Horizon Report make it easier to learn about new cultures, some because it is easier to communicate & collaborate and some because it is more engaging than simply reading information from a book. When thinking about augmented reality and how it can facilitate global learning and cultural understanding I think about how walking around a museum or even visiting another country would be a totally enhanced experience due to this technology. For example, I did some traveling with a tour group several years ago. I personally like the freedom to explore on my own but I went on this trip as a chaperone so it was already planned that we would have a set tour with a guide. Throughout the trip I vividly remember thinking how much more information I learned because we had a tour guide was with us. She knew so much about everything we saw. However, I would have liked the liberty of being able to go wherever I wanted. With this technology I imagine someday I could have the best of both worlds. I will have the freedom to travel and explore on my own and by pointing my phone at famous monuments, castles, etc. I could get a wealth of information anywhere at any time, as if I had a tour guide standing right next to me.
ReplyDeleteThe cool thing is you can have something similar to a tour guide using augmented reality in England. There is an app for your phone called Streetmuseum. You can walk around London and access information about different places and streets. You can even overlap historic pictures with recent ones. Here is a link to the video. It is pretty cool.
Deletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSfATEZiUYo
I enjoyed watching all of the videos! They were very interesting. I love the ability of holding up a piece of paper or wearing glasses, or just standing in front of the computer to interact with augmented reality. In one of the video's it made me think of Harry Potter and how the pictures and messages unfold, move, are 3D and right there. I know my kindergarten students would be very engaged and love augmented reality. They could become famous artists or be transported into art studios- there are so many opportunities for involvement and learning.
ReplyDeleteI never thought about Harry Potter, but it is kind of like that. Augmented Reality is similar to a 3D movie but in reality and you get to move the objects around. Pretty cool.
DeleteAs I read Kelly's comment and Shannon's comment, I really started to think of all the places I could take my children with AR. I teach at an inner city school, and most of my students have never been farther than a mile from their home. Their realm of understanding revolves around the street they live on or the corner store they visit on their walk home from school. The other day I read them a story about a girl and her horse and how they work together. This read-aloud was part of a writing lesson to spark a discussion about partners working together and helping each other. Anyway, in the story a calf was born. My students had no idea what a calf was. I though maybe they would have guessed that it was part of their leg, but most had never heard the word before. It would have been great to use AR to take the to a farm to show them a calf. AR can really change the way students take field trips. With increasing fuel prices it is expensive to take buses for field trips. Also the admission fee for most places has increased. AR can open more doors for varied learning opportunities.
ReplyDeleteI also wondered where you get the black and white card with the code for AR. I am glad Sara asked that question because I forgot to mention that in my previous comment.
When I was looking for Farm activities using augmented reality, I came across a game. The students interact with animals pieces to play the game. The cool thing about the game is it is on a interactive tabletop that uses augmented reality. I did not know they created tabletops for augmented reality games. It is pretty cool, you should check it out.
Deletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnOXz1McZU0
I was surfing the Web when I came across this website for the cool new toys for 2012 and one was an Augmented Reality app for a puzzle.
ReplyDeleteThe puzzle cost twenty dollars and with the app you are able to complete activities as well as take tours of what you created in the puzzle.
Here is the website of anyone is interested.
http://shopping.yahoo.com/articles/yshoppingarticles/816/cool-new-toys-for-2012/
I just read the "cool toys" article you left a link for. Wow! I was always motivated just to complete a puzzle. Now there is a whole new level of learning added to the puzzle experience.
ReplyDeleteI've been thinking about how augmented reality can solve real world problems. Since it's so realistic- training processes and simulations can be used to give the person a close to "real" experience so they are prepared and have that perspective of how the real world will be.
ReplyDeleteAlso, after reading the article on cool toys, it just makes me think that students coming into kindergarten are going to know about how these are used and they will be playing with them at home. The interactive hot wheels games are neat. These just make me think how we as educators need to continue learning about these devices, games, toys, etc. so that we can incorporate and understand where are students are coming from and what they are doing.
Students are coming to school with more knowledge about how technology works. I did have a funny comment from a student yesterday when I took the class to the computer to work on a Webquest. She said that she only uses computers to play games and she was having trouble trying to research a topic on the computer because she has never used a computer this way before. I think it just goes to show that we need to teach students how to use technology in productive ways not just to play games. These skills will help them solve real world problems.
DeleteI feel like I have seen video clips of people training to be pilots and before they send them into the air, they have them put on a virtual reality mask and complete a simulation of flying a plane. I feel like AR takes virtual reality to the next step by losing the mask and embedding the 3-D images and information into our real world. I can definitely see the military, doctors, and other fields using AR to solve real world problems. In the past I imagine there has always been a trade-off of surgeons gaining experience but at what cost? AR is closing the gap between "practice makes perfect" and keeping low risk!
ReplyDeleteI noticed on your timeline that in 2008 the first mobile phone app came out to support AR. I was wondering, since each student would need a camera in front of them to observe and interact with AR first hand, how we could supply this opportunity. I think with Mobile Apps on the rise, cell phones may become just the portable device needed in order to make AR fully incorporated into the classroom!
It would be very expensive to have every students with a mobile device, especially to run the apps.
DeleteOne way to use augmented reality without the apps is to take the students to the computer lab and use the build in cameras on the computers. The only problem with that is all the computers would have to have the AR software installed on them before you could use it. I am hoping that as technology continues to advance that the mobile devices will become cheaper.
I just read, "Augmented Reality Takes Hold in Classrooms" on http://www.eschoolnews.com/2010/05/11/augmented-reality-takes-hold-in-classrooms/. The article describes applications for AR and one application mentioned was a map of the school that can be viewed with AR for new students. I thought this was a really great way to use AR because it has an educational impact that is not directly related to curriculum. Imagine the anxiety a new student has when arriving to a new school and by viewing a map with AR the student can become familiar with the location of major school areas (cafeteria, library, gym, etc.) along with the location of his/her classroom before he/she attends the school. With their anxiety level reduced the student can begin to focus on academics and ease into the schedule and routines of the school and classroom.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the article link. It was great. I never thought about using augmented reality for maps of the school. I know when a students enrolls in my school the first thing they do is go on a tour to help familiarize themselves with the layout of the school. This application could also be used to help students with special needs.
DeleteKim, Thanks for sharing that article! Two things jumped out at me in it: (1) I had a boyfriend a few years ago who was required to use Google SketchUp for his architecture projects. It made me wonder how cool and exciting AR could potentially be for architects and engineers. SketchUp allows them to make 3D pictures of their designs with people and everything but imagine going to the site itself and overlaying AR to get a true sense of their ideas planted in reality- neat!! The other thing (2) was that it mentioned “It’s not just about throwing technology in these classrooms, it’s about empowering the teachers to understand the technology,” Jochim said. " This is definitely true! AR is mind-blowing and exciting but I am still trying to wrap my brain around it! I can just see the other teachers in my grade level who are still figuring out how to attach a document to an email (no offense to them and they remind me all the time when I talk too "tech" for them), that AR is going to take some getting used to and some training to really use it up to its potential!
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with teachers needing to understand how to use the technology. I was talking with one of my former students who is now in middle school and they told me about a teacher doesn't even use the smartboard that is in the classroom. When the teacher does it is used as a chalkboard. I thought that was terrible, but maybe if the teacher understood and knew how to use the technology in the classroom, then he/she could use it in a way to help engage and enrich the students they teach.
DeleteI also liked the idea of using AR for architecture projects. I could see a great advantage to planning and creating designs for buildings using AR. Thanks for your comment.
Elizabeth-
ReplyDeleteI like the connection you make outside the classroom with augmented reality. How often as teachers do we hear "I am nevergoing to use this in the real world"? I like that your boyfriend is using this technology and in an environment that young adults can relate too. It is time for educators to step up their game and introduce technology into the classroom. I cant think of an educational scenario that AR could'nt be used in the classroom.
Elizabeth,
ReplyDeleteI like how you relate AR to the real world. I often have students ask me "how does this relate to the real world" and "How am I ever going to use this"? I think your response about your boyfriend working as a mechanic proves the point that this technology can be useful in the "real world".
Elizabeth,
ReplyDeleteI took your advice and I took my children to the Lego store in the mall to see their version of augmented reality. How cool! My children were so excited that they could hold up a box of their favorite Legos and see a 3-D image of the completed project. This really gave me a clear idea of what AR is and how it can be used in both the educational field and in the business world.