Education is becoming increasingly digitised and as a result, the education technology industry (edtech) is gaining momentum – at a rapid rate.  Frost and Sullivan’s most recent study shows that the Australian edtech market is expected to grow to A$1.7 billion by 2022.

Augmented reality is one of the fastest growing technologies in the edtech realm.  It does not require expensive hardware to operate and the technology is easily accessible by the majority of target audiences via their smartphone (88% of Australians currently own a smartphone – Deloitte Mobile Consumer Survey) at home, in the classroom or on the go.

Educational AR apps can help students achieve better results by depicting real life scenarios. The subject matter becomes an immersive experience, enhanced by computer-generated visualisation and sound effects. Students who might once have received a truncated learning experience by only having access to textbooks and diagrams, become enabled by the experiential impact of AR’s interactive models and lessons which increase participation and sensory development.

AR app development in education also makes learning less expensive as it can reduce costs incurred by students and training providers alike (educational materials and supplies, travel, training environments etc.)

In the vocational space, the practicalities of AR training can be used to help master hands-on training and job skills. In the fields of medicine and science, for example, AR can be used to explain lab experiments and bring complex concepts to life in a practical, safe and cost effective way.

The use of AR, however, is not without its pitfalls. The key considerations for implementation are as follows:

• It can be extremely difficult to have an identical augmented experience across all platforms and devices. While some issues can be negated and many can be minimised, content portability issues remain a constant in the AR development world.
• Learning designers and teachers are not typically provided with necessary skills or training to implement these kinds of new technologies. Only the most innovative of learning institutions would be willing to invest (thankfully RMIT are) in correct training and roll out this tech.
• As with any sector that moves at speed, time needs to be taken to adapt from the old to the new, creases need to be ironed out, and processes need to be thoroughly considered.

As educational institutions catch up and these teething problems are dealt with, we are sure to see AR adopted far and wide, and a new edtech epoch begin.