Mobile Apps Make Field Trips More Interactive

In a time when school budgets are tight and testing schedules are demanding, field trips often get neglected. However, there is a new approach to field trips that may solve this issue. A group of researchers and educators at the American Educational Research Association conference proposed the idea of using “augmented reality” to enhance traditional museum or zoo tours, or even create field trips in local areas that are more affordable.

Unlike virtual reality, which involves interacting with avatars in a virtual world, augmented reality uses mobile phones and tablets with Internet, GPS, and camera capabilities to overlay information in specific areas. This means that a mobile app can ask questions or create virtual scenarios when a student enters a certain location or takes a photo of a place or object.

Chris Dede, a professor of learning technologies at Harvard Graduate School of Education, believes this technology can be used in various settings. He suggests that malls can be used to teach economics, cemeteries and neighborhoods can be used to teach history, and so on. The real world offers a wealth of resources that can be utilized for educational purposes.

There are already examples of how augmented reality has been implemented. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium used a tool called TaleBlazer to create a game that helps children understand the illegal wildlife trade by exploring animal exhibits. The Mentira project, developed by the University of Wisconsin-Madison, created a walking history and murder-mystery field trip in an old Albuquerque neighborhood for Spanish students at the University of New Mexico.

The initial cost of developing the Mentira project was $10,000 in 2010, mainly for equipment. Since then, it has become a standard part of the Spanish course, and teachers and students have been creating their own games around field trips using the same design tool.

Augmented reality can bring intellectual stimulation to otherwise dull locations. Matt Dunleavy, an assistant professor of educational technology at Radford University, explains that even a simple playground can become a rich learning environment with the use of this technology.

One example of this is EcoMOBILE, a field trip program created by Harvard University. It focuses on teaching science by exploring a city pond in the Northeast. During the trip, 6th graders can visit different spots around the pond and use an application on their phones to take water samples, sketch animals, and answer quizzes. They can also take photos and discuss their findings with their peers and teachers.

In summary, augmented reality has the potential to revolutionize field trips by making them more interactive and affordable. It opens up countless possibilities for integrating curriculum and assessment into real-world settings that students can explore. With this technology, students can gain a deeper understanding of various subjects while engaging with their environment.

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Original text:

“Global warming refers to the long-term increase in Earth’s average surface temperature due to human activities, particularly the emission of greenhouse gases. These gases trap heat in the atmosphere, causing a rise in temperature, which results in various adverse effects. Some of the consequences of global warming include melting ice caps, rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and the disruption of ecosystems. It is important to address global warming and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate its impact on the planet and future generations.”