Augmented Reality - Fake on Real

Off the top of my head, I would define Augmented Reality (AR) as the manipulated viewing of our real-world environment and its elements through the use of a computer-based interface.

Last night I found an AR game called Pandemica. Basically there are these strains of bacteria that surround you as you look through your mobile camera. Your objective is to press the screen and shoot all the bacteria before they reach you and kill you. It won an award for best AR game of the year.

I really think that these types of tools would be very useful in education. I found another app called ARgo that creates tags on locations shown on your mobile interface when you look through the camera. The tags show descriptions of each building, statue, point of interest, etc. If you were facing your mobile camera at the Kamehameha Statue, then you would see a tag with a description of the statue and the history of King Kamehameha.

In education, learners can use these AR tools for geography lessons, or have a guided tour to learn about the things in their environment.

Check out Pandemica here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtAFb2uF1AA
Here are some AR apps: http://www.mobileaugmentedreality.info/

Have fun!

Gavon

Keep Movin' !!! Gesture-Based Learning

I remember gesture games existing back when I was intermediate. They had the Nintendo Glove. You put on the glove and you could control everything that happens on the screen: punching, flying, shooting, etc.

I am not surprised that methods of incorporating gesture-based learning into the curriculum has taken place. I watched several videos on the Microsoft Kinect being used as a learning tool:

I am looking forward to see the learning objects instructors produce with Kinect. Gesture-based learning engages all of the major senses of Sight, Sound, and Touch. It will appeal to various larding styles. What will the future hold for gesture-based learning.

G

Game-Based Learning

GBL in the future

I read the NMC.org site. I honestly feel that in my own opinion, game based-learning has already become adopted widely and will continue to grow. Game-Based Learning (GBL) will never disappear like a fad. It will hold its own place in education. A big reason why games appeal to the learner is because they cater to various learning styles: tactile learners: controlling an entity on the screen with your hands and having it interact with the other objects; visual learners: animated graphics and interaction between sprites and other entities; audio learners: sound effects after a shot is fired or an explosion occurs; textual learners: words describing the objectives of the game and notifying you when goals are attainted. These are the key tools used to engage the learner.

For this sole reason of games appealing to all the senses, I feel that games, especially video or online games, are the ultimate way to learn and teach.

I would take several factors into consideration when designing a game for learners:
1) Learners' demographics - What is the background? What do they know about gaming? 
2) Subject - What topic is being learned?
3) Content - What types of things will the learner learn? What objects or characters will be used in the game?
4) Entertainment - What type of storyline will be used for the learner to accomplished the objective?
5) Engagement - How will visual, audio, text, and interaction between learner and game be used to accomplish the objective?


I remember growing up as a child and learning the conventional way: teacher with chalk and chalkboard and student with pen and pad. I always wondered why teachers never incorporated techniques from sesame street and electric company to get our attention. I always wondered why games were not incorporated more into our school work. Even as an adult, game-based learning is still more engaging and effective for me when I am teaching or when I am being taught.

This is the basis for my final project. HOPE YOU ENJOY!!!

Gavon