Augmented Reality in Education: Tech Industry Trends

Introduction

One of the advances in technology that has had the greatest impact across multiple fronts is augmented reality. The education industry has not been left behind. Educational institutions around the world are deploying augmented reality with the intention of improving the learning experience. Thanks to augmented reality, educators can further promote learning outcomes—particularly because the technology makes it possible to mimic real-world settings without incurring significant cost. This paper examines the deployment of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) in education and what these technologies mean for the sector as a whole.

Top Trends in the Tech Industry

From the outset, it is important to note that, as Deutsch (2020) points out, the tech industry is one of the five industries driving the U.S. economy—alongside healthcare, construction, retail, and non-durable manufacturing.

Following an initial search, the most relevant search terms identified included, but were not limited to: alternate reality, augmented reality, virtual reality, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. These terms were used to identify the tech industry's top trends. The three leading trends identified were artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and blockchain.

Artificial intelligence refers to the programming of computerized systems to mimic human actions through the simulation of human intelligence. According to Uzialko (2019), there is little doubt that artificial intelligence is increasingly transforming the way business is conducted—despite the fact that many people still associate AI with science fiction. In Uzialko's words, "the modern field of artificial intelligence came into existence in 1956, but it took decades of work to make significant progress toward developing an artificial intelligence system and making it a technological reality." Today, AI has become standard in process automation. For instance, more human-machine interactions are driven by AI—a familiar example being Siri, Apple's personal assistant, which offers help in an interactive manner ranging from adding calendar events to providing directions. Various predictions have been made about the continued deployment of AI in business. According to a 2018 predictive report cited by the Harvard Business Review, "AI stands to make the greatest impact in marketing services, supply chain management, and manufacturing" (Harvard Professional Development, 2019).

Augmented reality can be understood as the merging of real-world environments with digital elements to create an interactive interface. Porter and Heppelmann (2017) note that augmented reality (AR) is one of the advances in technology whose impact is being felt across multiple industries—from education to manufacturing. The authors are convinced that in the coming years, this technology will likely change the way we approach a wide range of activities, especially learning. In their words, "AR is already redefining instruction, training, and coaching" (Porter and Heppelmann, 2017). When applied to education, AR makes it possible to combine the virtual and physical worlds, allowing learners to manipulate their interactions with the world in a less costly and cumbersome manner. This is particularly relevant in medical education, where AR can immerse students in complex scenarios that mimic real-world clinical settings—without incurring the costs or safety concerns associated with practical instruction. As Mendez, Piasecki, Hudson, and Renda (2020) observe, "VR enables students to encounter clinical situations in a safe environment, which is essential with the increasing complexity of patients encountered both in the hospital and community" (p. 77). Thanks to AR in the classroom, students can interact with visual representations in a more intimate manner, enhancing their understanding of difficult concepts.

Blockchain technology can be described, in basic terms, as a distributed ledger technology (DLT) that enables data to be stored across multiple servers distributed around the globe. According to Meijer, a senior economist, "the world of banking as we know it for many years is in a fundamental transformation process, triggered by new technologies" (Meijer, 2019). Blockchain is one such technology. Meijer argues that it is poised to revolutionize the handling of financial transactions globally. Although blockchain technology is still in its early stages, its potential to disrupt the financial services industry—specifically banking—lies in its defining characteristics. According to Meijer (2019), blockchain is immutable, distributed, and decentralized. These are key advantages that banks, as currently structured, do not possess. For instance, regarding decentralization, blockchain stores data across its entire network, which, as Meijer (2019) observes, "eliminates risks that come with data being handled centrally"—as is the case with traditional banking. This decentralization also enhances security: it is far easier to corrupt or interfere with the operations of a centralized system than it is to compromise a distributed database.

Augmented Reality in Education: An Emerging Issue

Augmented reality does not have a single fixed definition; various definitions have been offered in attempts to explain the concept. Porter and Heppelmann (2017) conceptualize augmented reality as "a set of technologies that superimposes digital data and images on the physical world." As noted throughout this paper, AR is increasingly transforming the delivery of instruction—particularly by promoting the interactive nature of lessons, which enables students to comprehend topics and subject matters that are otherwise difficult to understand.

There are several ways in which AR is being deployed in education. First, AR is being actively used to make learning more interactive. Unlike traditional approaches, AR permits teachers to create more engaging classroom environments that not only capture learners' attention but also promote their understanding of core concepts. For instance, as Cohen (2019) observes, the U.S. Air Force has found that digital methods such as AR accelerate learning among airmen due to their responsiveness. In the words of Frehlich (2020), AR effectively "brings to life abstract topics, such as set theory and logical reasoning, and makes learning more effective than ever" (p. 174).

One area where AR has found its greatest utility is medical education. In this domain, learning involves the acquisition of complex skills and capabilities that must ultimately be deployed in real-life scenarios. AR is particularly valuable here because many medical training activities—such as nasogastric tube insertion—cannot easily be practiced in real-life environments for reasons of safety, cost, or didactics. As Frehlich (2020) points out, "since training in this real-life context is not always possible for reasons of safety, costs, or didactics, alternative ways are needed to achieve clinical excellence." Augmented and virtual reality tools fill this gap by providing safe, simulated environments where students can build essential clinical competencies.

Conclusion

In the final analysis, there are multiple trends that continue to shape the tech industry. While some have minimal impact, others carry far-reaching consequences. The trends identified in this paper—artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and blockchain—are among the most important worth monitoring. The utilization of augmented reality in the education sector is a particularly significant trend, having generated considerable interest despite still being in its early stages. The continued deployment of AR in education will be of great benefit to the sector in multiple ways. It will serve as a vote of confidence in technology's capacity to deliver solutions across many aspects of life, and it will open the door to even greater opportunities for stakeholders to deploy their innovations.

References

Cohen, R. S. (2019, October 2). Is augmented reality the next frontier in flight training? Air Force Magazine. https://www.airforcemag.com/is-augmented-reality-the-next-frontier-in-flight-training/

Deutsch, A. L. (2020, October 6). The 5 industries driving the U.S. economy. Investopedia. https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/042915/5-industries-driving-us-economy.asp

Frehlich, C. (2020). Immersive learning: A practical guide to virtual reality's superpowers in education. Rowman & Littlefield.

Harvard Professional Development. (2019, March 18). Business applications for artificial intelligence: An update for 2020. Harvard Extension School.

Meijer, C. (2019, February 12). Blockchain and disruption in the financial world: Will banks survive? Finextra.

Mendez, J. W., Piasecki, R. J., Hudson, K., & Renda, S. (2020). Virtual and augmented reality: Implications for the future of nursing education. Nurse Education Today, 93, 75–83.

Porter, M. E., & Heppelmann, J. E. (2017). Why every organization needs an augmented reality strategy. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2017/11/a-managers-guide-to-augmented-reality

Uzialko, A. (2019, April 22). How artificial intelligence will transform business. Business News Daily. https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/9402-artificial-intelligence-business-trends.html

Walsh, P. (2020, July 23). Innovative technology is the future of education. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2020/07/23/innovative-technology-is-the-future-of-education/

Zimmerman, E. (2019, August 22). AR/VR in K–12: Schools use immersive technology for assistive learning. EdTech. https://edtechmagazine.com/k12/article/2019/08/arvr-k-12-schools-use-immersive-technology-assistive-learning-perfcon