Designing and Developing an Augmented Reality Application: A Sample Of Chemistry Education

Year 2016, Volume: 1 Issue: 1, 147 - 164, 25.10.2016

Zeynep Taçgın Nazlıcan Uluçay Ersin Özüağ

Abstract

In this study, NUI (Natural User Interface) and HCI (Human Computer Interaction) based AR (Augmented Reality) application has been developed for the chemistry education. Purpose of this study is to design and develop a student-centered AR environment to teach periodic table, and atomic structure of the elements and molecules. HMD (Head Mounted Display) has been used to develop AR system, and user control has been executed with hand motions (grab, drag, drop, select and rotate). The hand motion control has been used to improve spatial abilities of students in order to maximize the transferred knowledge. Use of the most common natural controlling tools (fingers and hands) to interact with virtual objects instead of AR markers or other tools provides a more interactive, holistic, social and effective learning environment that authentically reflects the world around them. In this way, learners have an active role, and are not just passive receptors. Results of this study indicate that the developed NUI-based system is so intuitive and conductive to the RW (Real World) collaboration.

Designing and Developing an Augmented Reality Application: A Sample Of Chemistry Education

Abstract

Augmented Reality has been accepted as an effective
educational method and this review depends on philosophical background of
cognitive science. This means, several channels –aural, visual, and
interactivity, etc. - have been used
to offer information in order to support individual learning styles. In this
study, Natural User Interface- and Human Computer Interaction-based Augmented
Reality application has been developed for the chemistry education. The purpose
of this study is to design and develop a student-centered Augmented Reality
environment to teach periodic table, and atomic structure of the elements and
molecules. Head Mounted Display has been used to develop Augmented Reality
system, and user control has been executed with hand motions (grab, drag, drop,
select and rotate). The hand motion control has been used to improve spatial
abilities of students in order to maximize the transferred knowledge. Use of
the most common natural controlling tools (fingers and hands) to interact with
virtual objects instead of AR markers or other tools provides a more
interactive, holistic, social and effective learning environment that
authentically reflects the world around them. In this way, learners have an
active role, and are not just passive receptors. Correspondingly, the developed
NUI-based system has been constructed as design-based research and developed by
using instructional design methods and principles to get reach of more
effective and productive learning material. Features of this developed material
consist of some fundamental components to create more intuitive and conductive
tools in order to support Real World collaboration.

Keywords

Augmented reality, chemistry education, material development, instructional design, human computer interaction, natural user interface

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