Augmented Reality & Growing Humans in a Modern Classroom

Recently I attended the regional conference for TCEA (Texas Computer Education Association) in Austin, Texas, and the air was rich with new tools, new approaches to marrying tools ("mash-ups") for new outcomes, and how futurists see new tools emerging in all avenues of our lives.  

I found myself eagerly scanning my program for cutting-edge ideas and thinkers. I found that something called "Mixed Reality" was emerging...a blend of virtual reality and augmented reality...was a major strand in the conference, with a compelling group of speakers and presenters who were from the computer industry, advertising, medicine, and education!  I knew what virtual reality was, but what about augmented reality? I'd only seen it in advertising. Was it really growing in popularity and not a fad? 

So how does a compelling, very highly engaging technology support classroom learning? In connecting our students to being able to see beyond what they see, which is what we earnestly try to help them to learn to do, we have a new ally in helping them to create the desire to interact with knowledge and environment!

Devon Lyon, a filmmaker, has an amazing TedTalk that goes into the idea of virtual storytelling using augmented reality, and it is, at its core, all about being HUMAN:

One application that is exciting and easy to learn to use is Aurasma. This app allows the user to create "triggers" that enable learning experiences that literally POP off of the QR code on the printed page or computer screen. Teachers were presenting at TCEA who had combined the idea of the "puzzle room" (so much fun) and utilizing augmented reality triggers with Aurasma. How can you use Aurasma in the classroom?  How about these for a start:

~ interactive word walls

~ scavenger hunts 

~ school tours

~ multi-lingual support

~ classroom learning centers

~ counseling support 

~ interactive libraries

I was not just excited, I was a CONVERT to re-investing in this new technology, as it definitely looked like it wasn't going away; it now had a place in the classroom because my students were using it in their gaming, their social media, and their amusement experiences (We have at least five puzzle room locations in Austin now and they are huge family events here!)

There is an artist who lives in Los Angeles, Zenka (yes, one name), and she is as excited about what the brain does with mixed reality as I am.  She spoke at TedXJacksonHole, and virtual learning, virtual communications, virtual living are all changing our communities for the better. It's all in our mindset, and she explains that our "separateness" in time and space can be traversed with mixed reality, and that may just save us as a species.  How very connected to every reason to learn everything we learn as we grow?

Technology news source EdSurge has some great ideas for new augmented reality resources for the classroom. I dare you to try just one of these ideas and see how your students react, how they talk about your classroom and your teaching, and transform their understanding of what is on a page to what it could be in their lives.  It's not just augmented reality; it's augmented thinking and growing. As a teacher, I'm ALL about that!