In the early 2000s, researchers predicted augmented reality (AR) technology would be so advanced that we could experience AR in the palm of our hands. Or more specifically, through our handheld devices.
More than a decade later, using AR and AR art is as natural as taking pictures on our phones. Since eLearning is presently the norm in our pandemic-hit world, we can’t help but wonder whether it’s time to rethink and reimagine the ways we teach.
And whether eLearning is as effective as we need it to be or whether we should introduce new technologies, such as AR, to education.
But why should we integrate AR into eLearning in the first place? Surely, there are problems educators want to solve using this technology. That’s correct.
Augmented reality technology is not a mere stunt to get students interested in online learning. Getting them interested is a huge part of it, of course, but there is more to AR than frivolous display.
So what are the advantages of using AR in eLearning? There are several — or more specifically, five — of them that we think would benefit learners and eLearning companies immensely.
Benefit #1: Using AR Art in eLearning Brings Hard-to-Visualize Subjects Closer
When something is difficult to observe at close range, it can be equally challenging to understand it truly. Abstract concepts tend to be hard to grasp, especially for young learners still figuring out the world around them.
Educators can still effectively use traditional teaching methods, such as presenting a graphical representation of a far-off subject. But if you give students a bunch of unobservable subjects without active engagement on their part, then you risk leaving them feeling uninterested.
According to research, students become less interested in science and perceive it to be boring because there are “too many abstract concepts.” And while showing images of an atom’s structure helps students appreciate it better, interacting with these things as though they were right in front of them gives new learners a nearly tangible, experiential way of learning.
In other words, integrating AR in education and eLearning enables the theoretical to materialize before our very eyes.
Benefit #2: Developing AR-Based Visualization Can Aid in Minimizing Misconceptions
A review conducted by members of the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia reveals misconceptions can arise from the inability to visualize objects invisible to the eye and those that are unimaginably massive. In their review, they also cite a paper arguing that the way AR conveys these objects helps students see them in different angles.
There is great potential in combining AR and eLearning. With AR supplementing eLearning modules, students get a more comprehensive look into subjects that are otherwise unavailable.
Apart from minimizing misconceptions, AR also boosts students’ interest and excitement to learn, studies say. Their attitude toward this emerging technology is positive and open, indicating how welcome AR is once introduced in learning environments.
Benefit #3: Training Employees with AR Technology Can Boost Performance at Work
Another benefit of using AR in eLearning is training. Not in an academic setting but rather in a corporate one. How will AR help train employees, exactly? The answer lies in gamified eLearning, something NarraSoft has done for a previous client.
A few years ago, we developed a set of gamified training materials for a company that has won several awards precisely because of this eLearning product. Through these materials, cybersecurity staff learns protocols in a way that sticks. And while this project of ours is not AR-based, it’s still a testament to what gamified education can offer.
Now, couple gamified learning with AR experiences, and you’ve got a highly engaging approach to teaching. Skills training with the use of AR technology is not actually new, though. It’s been done in manufacturing, simulations, and surgical operations.
But adding gaming elements into AR-based training is perhaps not as widely implemented yet, and this is a massive opportunity for companies seeking to innovate and elevate their operations and training materials.
However, several studies have shown merging AR simulations with training exercises can “improve individuals’ performance in learning a variety of physical skills,” a journal article in the Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange notes.
Benefit #4: AR Technology and Art Allow Interactivity in Different eLearning Disciplines
If you go through the studies conducted on AR and eLearning, you’ll frequently come across medical education and training. But you can actually apply AR across eLearning disciplines, and each field can benefit from AR’s capacity to be interactive.
Aside from preventing misconceptions, studies show AR is also capable of the following:
- Giving learners an idea of spaces from a geographical to a molecular level, as well as the means to manipulate these spaces
- Helping learners visualize and interact with elements to show the effects of force, which is helpful in the field of physics
- Providing learners the means to engage with historical sites through interactive AR assets on their mobile devices
This makes AR a fun and easily accessible tool for students across learning stages. And this leads us to the next benefit of combining augmented reality art and online learning.
Benefit #5: AR-Based eLearning Materials are Reusable and Scalable
One of the best things about the technology we have today is how portable, accessible, and flexible it can be. For AR eLearning modules, this is no different.
Imagine being able to maximize the potential of AR in an educational setting. Instead of relying on physical objects to demonstrate a concept, which is tricky to do these days, educators and eLearning companies can design and develop AR-based learning materials that practically do the same thing — or even better.
Aside from the endless possibilities one can do with AR assets, another advantage is the cost-saving aspect of this strategy. A lot of companies offer AR art development for businesses in the eLearning industry, including NarraSoft.
With our team of experienced 3D artists and software developers, you can reuse and scale up your AR-based eLearning materials at a reasonable price. Plus, with our 24/7 availability, we can create educational assets in no time!
In Summary
The top five benefits of augmented reality (AR) art in eLearning are:
- Its ability to bring hard-to-visualize objects closer
- How it can minimize misconceptions in learning
- Its capacity to boost employees’ performance at work
- The level of interactivity it affords users
- How AR-based educational materials are reusable and scalable
For visually stunning and scalable AR eLearning materials, partner with NarraSoft’s digital artists and software developers.
Feel free to contact us on our chat box or contact form, or send us an email at sales@narrasoft.com for any inquiries you have.