Augmented reality (AR) has made education more readily available than ever before. In some ways, even, it has been able to bridge economic and class gaps, making knowledge accessible to anyone with a screen. While a full-fledged migration to remote learning aids has been a slow and steady process, events like COVID-19 has exasperated the demand to turn this vision into a reality.

So, what’s all the hype about AR anyway?

24/7 access to knowledge. One of the beautiful things about AR is its ability to transcend time, space, income, and resources. The study and reliable access to different websites, educational tools, and research allows individuals to explore their inquisitiveness and curiosity. With most technology compatible with visual and hearing disabilities, it has made the free flow of knowledge more readily available than ever before.

A student of the world. The ability to explore and learn from the world has historically been dependent on educational funding. Before, students may obtain most of their knowledge about the world through outdated textbooks. Now, I professors, faculty, and parents can give their students the gift of a global education with AR. Say an art history teacher, for example, wants to show their students the statue of David. What could possibly be more compelling than a virtual field trip to Italy, where the teacher is able to discuss in depth all the nuances of the artwork that make it special and historically significant? It’s hard to encapsulate how much more impactful an experience of that nature would be in lieu of a flat, non-dimensional textbook.

Presentation is key. For a countless number of years now, the scientific community has been aware of the various learning styles of students. Some are visual learners, and the benefit most using pictures and diagrams. Others may be auditory learners who learn most efficiently with dictation. AR is one viable solution to these kinds of concerns. Do you speak a different language? AR can fix that. Are you having trouble finding a learning style that’s compatible with your brain chemistry? Use AR to better explore a complex phenomenon and learn subjects in a style that best suits your needs.

Graphics over semantics. At times, the ability to communicate different subject areas is limited to the visual aids offered by the educator. Through innovative visualization and engaging graphics, however, A.R. has the potential to be more impactful. “There is reason to believe that the different resources made available through AR can help complement in-and-out of school learning.

It’s more important than ever to adopt different approaches to engage students, considering that for over a year now many students have only been able to interact with their professors virtually. While there are countless benefits to both parents and students, there is no doubt that transitioning to a remote learning environment after an entire educational career in person possesses a lot of difficulties in the earlier stages of migration.

While it’s true that we’ve only begun to scratch the surface of the various applications of AR in a modern landscape, there is reason to believe that AR and its myriad applications will become an everyday reality in less time than we think. While we embrace the possibilities with open arms, it is important to be cognizant of the potential pitfalls along the way.

Taking a backseat to innovation is only delaying the inevitable. It is almost foolish to behave as though modernization is a choice. Don’t get stuck in the technological Jurassic period… Be on the right side of AR.

The Systech Solutions, Inc. Blog Series is designed to showcase ongoing innovations in the data and analytics space. If you have any suggestions for an upcoming article, or would like to volunteer to be interviewed, please contact Olivia Klayman at oliviak@systechusa.com.