Research
Bridging Theories
and Reality
Overview
BACKGROUND
RESEARCH
Rounds of literature review sessions were conducted, and 5 main topics were identified that could help to create our solution.
15+ Competitors were analyzed to locate the product opportunity gap.
USER-CENTERED
RESEARCH
5 teacher and 10 student interviews were conducted to uncover unmet user needs.
Contextual inquiries at the Pittsburgh Science Museum and Citizen Science Lab also fed into our collection of insights.
Research Insights
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What did we find out about the technology?
Why AR?
"...the most straightforward way to view a Mixed Reality environment, therefore, is one in which real world and virtual world objects are presented together within a single display."
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(Milgram & Kishino, 1994)
AR enables students to experience learning by doing, as 3D objects in AR environments provide more concrete and interactive experiences, resulting in more effective and lasting learning (Chen, Chi, Hung, & Kang, 2011; Wojciechowski & Cellary, 2013).
AR technology can also increase students' motivation to learn, as it offers a novel and immersive approach compared to traditional teaching methods (Sahin et al., 2020).
Furthermore, a positive correlation has been found between the perceived ease of use of AR technology and students' intentions to use it. By providing students with hands-on practice and opportunities to interact with virtual objects and environments, AR can support the development of essential skills and knowledge in various educational domains, such as physics and astronomy (Enyedy et al., 2012; Sahin et al., 2020).
Research Insights
01
Need for engaging and relevant content.
Both students and teachers recognize the importance of engaging and relevant class content, including activities, lectures, and labs. To improve engagement, it's crucial to make the content relatable, challenging, and memorable.
02
Importance of user-friendly and reliable technology usage in the classroom
Although technology has the potential to improve learning experiences, problems like poor wifi connections, complicated systems, and design flaws currently limit its effectiveness.
03
Emphasis on understanding and sense-making
Both teachers and students could benefit from tools that offer concrete examples to promote not only memorization and fluency but also understanding and making sense of the concept deeply, which can help them to grasp abstract concepts more effectively. ​
04
Hands-on experiences and simulations
Hands-on experiences, simulations, and real-life scenarios are essential for making abstract concepts more concrete and engaging for students.
05
Peer learning and collaboration
Encouraging collaboration, competition, and peer support through group activities can help redirect peer distractions towards peer learning and create a more supportive learning environment.
06
Balancing engagement and focus
While students and teachers both value engagement, students tend to associate it with fun, while teachers see it as focus. Striking a balance between these two perspectives is important for creating an effective learning environment.
07
Addressing resource constraints
Budget constraints, a lack of variety in lab equipment, and the need for qualified instructors can limit the ability of schools to offer advanced experiments or technologies. Schools and educators need to seek creative and cost-efficient solutions and carefully prioritize resources to support engaging and relevant learning experiences.
08
Teacher professional development
Teachers would benefit from teacher communities, both in person and online, to share ideas, skills, and experiences, which could help fill the gaps in their prior knowledge of the pedagogical and technical requirements of our design.