Augmented Reality Apps
Augmented Reality (AR) technology combines real world images, videos or sound with computer generated information or images. While I was previously aware of AR I hadn't really thought of how it could be used in an educational setting until I attended ICTEV in 2011 and signed up to Nathan Jones' session. You can download the session handouts here. Once I was back at school I jumped right on in and started experimenting with these first few apps and have enjoyed using the increasing number of AR apps that have become available with my classes ever since.
Dinosaurs Everywhere!
Have dinosaurs rampaging through your classroom or playground with this cool AR app. You get 5 dinosaurs for free and 5 more with an upgrade. You'll need to upgrade to take photos also. Great way to engage students who are normally reluctant to write. Click here to see how this app was combined with Strip Designer to demonstrate knowledge of speech marks.
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Dino Park
Another dinosaur AR app. This one only gives you one dinosaur for free but allows you to change the direction it is facing and size to give you a better overall shot.
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Heart Cam
A fabulous AR app that makes it appear as if you're looking inside someone's chest cavity at their heart. The sound gets louder the closer you get too! My class used this app after investigating how exercise changes heart rate, breathing rate and body temperature. There are three modes: horror, valentine and xray.
To use this app you will need to download the target image here: http://tinyurl.com/heartCam Cost: Free |
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Butterflies
Fill the room with beautiful butterflies. Another way to inspire creative writing in your students. See this app and the dragon app being used with Strip Designer in literacy lessons by clicking here.
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Dragon Detector
Watch out for those dragons flying around your room. Again a fantastic way to inspire imaginative writing in your students. Free to download but requires an upgrade to take photos.
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String
String allows you to view rich 3D objects and animations as if they existed in the real world. Check out the fabulous targets and get more information here:
http://www.poweredbystring.com/ See a demonstration on the right. Cost: Free |
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ColAR Mix
Currently my favourite AR app! Not only does it overlay something 3D and animated but you get to be in complete design of the colour palette! Colour in the target images to bring your own colouring in to life! When studying stop-motion we investigated the new Disney stopmotion series Blank before designing our very own Blank characters and bringing them to life with this app.
As International Dot Day approaches they've also released a new target so students can design their own dot and bring it to life! More info on International Dot Day and this app can be found on this flyer. Jump on over to their website to download the images. |
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