Augmented Reality

In the 2-3 year horizon for the Horizon Report, the most eyebrow-raising technique discussed was "augmented reality." On first glance, I was instantly enticed (it definitely sounded cool and hip, like all these technologies) but remained skeptical, which we all probably do since we know very well that only a few out of many trendy technologies ultimately emerge as popular, capable, effective tools. I was thinking, which type of augmentation of reality is going to help learning? The fear-and-loathing type? The back-to-the-future type? As it turns out, this technique does seem to have merit but is not all that different than what some teachers have been using for decades. Augmented reality (AR) is a term for layering information (such as on a tablet or smartphone) in 3-D space that relates to some real-world situation. The most tangible example in the report referred to students visiting a battlefield on a trip and being able to view 3-D maps at different points in history. There's obviously some cool potential applications here with many more to come given the diversity of mobile apps that can be downloaded by students. One example I thought relevant for use in a Herpetology class I've helped with would be to have the students download a frog call identifier app (if it exists), and use their smartphones to help them inventory different habitats around the Athens area for species. This sounds cool (and easy for the students), but how different is it from an instructor taking the same group of kids in the field and augmenting their reality by directly teaching them what frogs they hear or describe what happened in a battle when they are standing right next to the field or explain the history behind a painting without requiring every student to whip out their $200 phone to learn? I'm definitely playing devil's advocate here, because I always try to ascribe to the "don't knock it before you try it" school of thought, and there are probably many fantastic teaching scenarios where having those extra 3-D visuals in the field can add to the learning experience. I'm just pointing out the fact that if you take your class out of the classroom to a museum, battlefield, or ecosystem, even if they've already visited these places, you should probably be able to give them some information and an experience that augments their reality. Even if they forgot their phone.