Posted August 26, 2023 by mitchcl
The augmented reality language learning companion is an innovative educational application designed to transform the way students learn languages, specifically early childhood aged (5-8yrs). By combining the power of augmented reality with traditional language learning materials, the app engages younger students through interactive 3D models and animations, enhancing their vocabulary retention and overall learning experience.
The goal of the AR language companion is to revolutionise language education by addressing the challenge of sustaining student’s interest in traditional learning methods. By leveraging this augmented reality technology, the app aims to create an immersive learning experience that enhances the vocabulary retention and fosters a deeper understanding of language usage.
The concept teaches the basic A-Z in an engaging interactive way, providing students with a new experience and improving learning retention overall. The prototype takes letters, and presents the user with an example of the letter being used (e.g. H for house), giving the user something fun to play with while also learning their abc’s at the same time.
Augmented reality holds immense significance in the context of education. Traditional learning methods often struggle to keep students engaged, leading to reduced retention rates and teachers having to think more creatively to ensure students understand the content. Augmented reality bridges the gap between theory and real-life application, providing a sensory experience that enhances learning comprehension with students. The visual and interactive nature of AR stimulates cognitive processes, making learning more enjoyable and effective.
What is the significance of the interface technology (VR or AR) in the context of the application (Step 2 & 3 in Human Computer Design Process – Lecture 4) Interactions are a pivotal component of AR based learning. Traditional language learning materials, such as textbooks and flashcards, often lack the dynamic engagement required to keep students motivated. The interactive 3D models and animations provided by the AR app offer a new dimension to learning. Students can manipulate and explore vocabulary words in a way that traditional methods cannot replicate, fostering a deeper connection to the language and enabling them to internalise concepts more readily.
I think ways it can be built and improved in the future is more interaction, and potentially more advanced teaching like sentences or even full books, elevating the learning experience that more in what is a technology generation.
In conclusion, this application addresses the challenge of sustaining students' interest in language learning by leveraging augmented reality technology. The interactive and immersive nature of the app transforms vocabulary acquisition into an engaging and effective experience, revolutionising the way languages are taught and learned.
A storyboard to illustrate the use case of the interface technology and the interaction(s) in your application.
Unity and Vuforia was used to build this application, in a production environment students would have either flashcards or a book of all the letters in the alphabet, when the user waves their phone over the letter, it will transform into an immersive example relating to the letter, with sound to go with it so they can practice saying letters. 3D models were hand-picked from the free section of the Unity Store, aiming to get simple and fun models in as examples. One includes a real model of an apple, a car, and a moving bear (it roars if you touch it).
References
assetstore.unity.com. (n.d.). Final Form Studio - Asset Store. [online] Available at: https://assetstore.unity.com/publishers/12970 [Accessed 25 Aug. 2023].
assetstore.unity.com. (n.d.). FREE Stylized Bear - RPG Forest Animal | 3D Animals | Unity Asset Store. [online] Available at: https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/3d/characters/animals/free-stylized-bear-rpg-forest-animal-228910.
assetstore.unity.com. (n.d.). Survival Kit Lite | 3D Tools | Unity Asset Store. [online] Available at: https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/3d/props/tools/survival-kit-lite-92549 [Accessed 25 Aug. 2023].
Developer, A. (2022). Benefits of Augmented Reality in Education. [online] ClassVR. Available at: https://www.classvr.com/blog/benefits-of-augmented-reality-in-education/.
library.vuforia.com. (n.d.). Getting Started | VuforiaLibrary. [online] Available at: https://library.vuforia.com/.
Papanastasiou, G., Drigas, A., Skianis, C., Lytras, M. and Papanastasiou, E. (2018). Virtual and augmented reality effects on K-12, higher and tertiary education students’ twenty-first century skills. Virtual Reality, 23(4). doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10055-018-0363-2.