Developments in technology have created some of the best tools available for the educator’s arsenal. They have opened up new opportunities to facilitate learning and help make the learning process enjoyable for young children. And when kids are having fun, learning becomes more effective. That’s why the use of augmented reality for kids is the latest trend in the educational system. Find out how you can utilize this to aid in a child’s learning and what the benefits are below.
Augmented Reality for Kids: Introduction
What is augmented reality? This type of technology uses computer-generated visual and auditory media that is overlaid on the physical world. The purpose of augmented reality is to create an interactive experience that greatly enhances the real-world environment.
When it was first introduced, augmented reality was mainly utilized for developing virtual games to create a life-like and immersive experience. Nowadays, this same concept is applied in apps that supplement learning.
Augmented reality apps for educational purposes are designed to enhance learning by making it interactive and promoting higher engagement. AR apps open up a new world of learning opportunities to children that goes beyond traditional lessons. It makes learning fun and immersive, just like being in a video game.
The level of fun and learning will vary significantly based on the type of app used. With a lot of educators relying on online tools to make learning easier, it’s not uncommon to find augmented reality apps for kids that are designed specifically for education.
How Augmented Reality for Kids Facilitates Improved Learning
Now that you understand why augmented reality can help with a child’s learning, it’s time to look more closely at the actual benefits that exist for your child. Knowing about these benefits will enable you to maximize them and expand on the learning opportunities that they offer.
Improved Learning Experience
The use of learning apps, especially ones that feature augmented reality, is becoming an increasingly common and effective technique used by educators to improve a child’s learning experience. With this technology, the line between learning and playing is blurred. Kids who are enjoying the process of learning get more involved, whereas boring approaches to learning can make them distant and disinterested.
Another benefit of an interactive learning experience through AR is the ability to learn first-hand through the integration of the digital and real worlds. Interacting with stimuli in a way that would never be possible in the real-world, such as taking a close look at a 3D strand of DNA, enables kids to explore these things in a way that feels surreal and magical.
Increased Engagement
The use of augmented reality for learning is a surefire way to get kids more engaged with the process. Kids have a very short attention span, and one of the greatest challenges for educators is to hold a child’s attention long enough to facilitate the learning process. The use of AR apps can help overcome this problem.
Using interactive approaches will engage the child more with what they are being taught. It feels like playing to them, but they are learning in the process. Making education entertaining is an excellent way to encourage kids to participate in the activity, resulting in them absorbing even more knowledge.
Easy to Use and Accessible
This is one of the main advantages of using AR apps for teaching kids. They work just like any other app that you might already have on your phone. All you have to do is download the app of your choice and you can use it from your mobile phone or tablet (or any other mobile device).
And the best part is, you can access these apps no matter where you are.
Stimulate Interest and Discussion
In a traditional classroom setting, a teacher provides visual aids for the discussion of certain subjects or concepts. This traditional approach to educating children is no longer effective. The one-dimensional presentation of information is being replaced by more interactive augmented reality tools.
The use of augmented reality stimulates the mind of the child and encourages discussion. AR experiences lead to more excitement and curiosity, and when children are emotionally invested, they are more likely to remember what they have learned.
Facilitate Communication and Collaboration
Augmented reality is an increasingly popular tool for educators because of its ability to facilitate effective communication and collaboration. This is most evident when this technology is used for activities that require teamwork; it makes it easier for everyone to participate and work together toward a goal by creating a shared digital environment to work in. This is an important life skill for children to learn and will benefit them later on in life.
Deepens Learning in Various Areas
The use of augmented reality in education opens up a new way of learning through immersive digital experiences. For example, a teacher can provide her students with an AR representation of the solar system, where they can physically explore space and take a closer look at planets, all while remaining in the classroom.
Story reading apps are also beneficial for children because they can improve reading skills, comprehension, vocabulary, content creation, and the concept of play by promoting interest in the activity. They can even be beneficial to a child’s emotional intelligence if the stories impact them mentally and emotionally.
Using Augmented Reality Apps for Learning
The use of augmented reality for kids is still making great advances, despite the fact that this technology has been around for some time. It is capturing the attention of educators that see its value as an accessible, cost-effective, and essential tool that can broaden a child’s education.
This is something that must be explored even further, especially with the impact that AR will have on the future careers of our children. This open-minded approach to learning boosts a child’s interest in learning and eliminates the fatigue associated with traditional education methods.
