Augmented reality tools add spice to online lessons

Naina Mishra

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 20

A giant dinosaur or planet earth appears suddenly inside the room of Navneet Kaur, an elementary school teacher of a government school of Chandigarh.

As the objects appear in the background, Navneet Kaur of Government Model Senior Secondary School, Manimajra begins recording video lessons for children of primary classes in an attempt to give a new dimension to online learning for children.

Kaur has so far prepared one lesson of Class IV using the AR technique. She said, "I am looking forward to to present a project proposal for my department through proper channel so that my services can be best utilised. I hold the view that if such technically sound educational lessons reach to our school students, it will be assistance in the hands of teachers and help a long way in reaching the targeted learning outcomes."

“The covid 19 pandemic has resulted in closure of schools across the country and online classes now have become critical alternative during these tough times. However, primary school students are finding classes dull and boring. Imagine the excitement students will contain if they are shown butterflies flying or planets revolving on their screen with the help of augmented realities,” said Kaur.

Kaur has come up with ‘Augmented Reality’ as the way for enticing primary children during online classes.

Navneet added, “As a teacher, I still feel that no technology can replace the teacher contact with students. Therefore, I decided to choose augmented reality as my teaching aid where the students can connect with the teacher as the teacher teaches. The students are going to love this real like motion images floating around.”

This technology superimposes a computer-generated image on a user's view of the real world, thus providing a composite view and hence captures the attention of the students. The facts are easily registered in young minds.

AR is being used widely with schools in Kerala adopting the same technique to engage students during online classes.

She said she is hopeful that with the help of the technique, the learning experience of students can be made appealing and child-centric, simultaneously.