Traditional methods of education that we are used to are rapidly changing as the technological innovations are ushering in the age of digitalization. A new trend, the so-called EdTech, is now booming, and it is even expected to eventually replace traditional education methods.

Augmented reality (AR) has a leading position in EdTech as educational apps and technologies are becoming more advanced and available. In this article, we will explore how AR is evolving to reshape the future of education.

When it comes to the technology’s potential, AR has a bright future, and it is expected that the number of active users will reach 1.73 billion in 2024. Although now AR is mainly used in the entertainment industry, we should recognize its considerable impact on education.

To be more specific, AR changes the perception of mobile applications and other types of visual experiences. Therefore, AR can effectively enhance the ability of students to learn through a more interactive environment and eLearning.

This potential is recognized by many companies as the AR education market is projected to grow on a global scale, although North America maintains a leading position. Furthermore, EdTech, particularly the app market, is expected to rise at 26% CAGR by 2024 with several large companies such as Alphabet Inc, Duolingo, and Age of Learning Inc. taking the lead.

As the EdTech industry is steadily growing, more potential consumers are looking to the solutions that are currently available. AR is the technology that is available for both users and developers. Its further development is going to make it even more accessible and imperative for the EdTech industry’s growth.

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Interesting as it may sound, AR technologies are already commonly present in preschool education. A recent study found out that the use of AR apps by children aged 4–6 yielded increased levels of engagement coupled with active interaction with their surroundings. This way, the technology benefits children by keeping them motivated to learn.

The most obvious application of AR is associated with the classroom environment. Teachers can incredibly enhance the learning experience through virtual examples. Even more, students can benefit from the technology as visual assistance enhances the learning process. Dinosaur 4D+ is a great example of how AR can be effectively applied in the classroom setting. Yet another curious example of AR in the classroom is Curiscope. Both apps interact with physical objects to generate a better learning experience for students.

As almost everyone has some gadgets nowadays, teachers find it harder to keep students engaged, and eLearning apps are becoming more popular than ever. eLearning app developers recognize the potential of AR and actively implement this technology in their products. For instance, Veative has a large selection of educational modules. The case of Veative is an excellent example of how to engage students in complex STEM disciplines.

Yet another example of distance learning is Seek Education. An online platform can be accessed by students who can acquire new knowledge more effectively through the visualization of subjects. Equipping a platform with similar features in the mobile app is a great way to bring convenience to the aspiring students.

AR in education has several prominent benefits that should be highlighted:

1. Accessibility of learning materials. As people are carrying gadgets everywhere, they can access information at any time. AR apps can make education less expensive and more accessible as one can have a perfect alternative to some textbooks and other physical learning materials.
2. Improvement to collaborative learning. AR apps are enhancing the learning experience through engagement, so it is possible to use this advantage and improve classwork that requires all the students to collaborate.
3. Practical learning. AR technologies can be effectively used in professional training as well. They can potentially reduce costs and risks associated with practical learning by replacing traditional training methods with AR.

Unfortunately, AR and its use in education have some drawbacks that cannot be ignored. After all, this is an emerging technology, and it is still tricky to implement its elements in the already established learning and training environments.

• The cost — currently this is the biggest pitfall in the active application of AR in education. While the majority of modern smartphones and tablets are able to handle and incorporate AR apps, budget devices usually lack these capabilities. The solution can be pricey as not every educational institution or company can provide learners with innovative AR devices.
• Hardware dependency — a continuation of the previous challenge. Not every student or teacher can have access to the gadgets that are needed for the AR use in education. This fact greatly limits accessibility to the technology and its features.
• Quality of connection — as AR apps rely on constant Internet connectivity, it is quite hard to negate the risks of connection issues or losses. The majority of learning apps are cloud-based and require stable connection. Any disruptions in access to the cloud can potentially ruin the educational experience and learning processes altogether.
• Lack of training — AR technologies are becoming more available to the general public but there is still a considerable training gap that has to be filled. Implementation of AR in the curriculum will require extensive training programs for the staff thus resulting in more expenditures.

The development of AR in education is moving forward as developers are actively releasing new apps and solutions. From a broader perspective, AR and VR are often combined to create a mixed reality — a learning environment that is often used by large companies for training and project development. It is possible to expect that such an approach to education will be implemented in a wider educational field.

Augmented reality development requires an expertise in niche technologies, and it is important to find a developer who will be able to create a unique and customized app that can be used for educational purposes.

Despite all the complexity that comes with AR, its employment in education is quite promising. Industry giants such as Google and Apple are moving forward in AR development. Therefore, it is possible to expect the appearance of new technologies that will considerably reduce the price of gadgets that are required for an effective use of AR. In turn, this development will make AR technology easily applicable in the educational sector.

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Source: https://arvrjourney.com/augmented-reality-the-future-of-education-is-now-9b1167cf87ec?source=rss—-d01820283d6d—4