7 Best Educational Augmented Reality Apps in November 2024

Augmented Reality in Education & Learning

Coming so shortly on the heels of virtual reality, Augmented Reality has recently become a turning point in the studying process for those who are ready to change the conventional image of education.

This means that with the correct development direction AR can be successfully applied to the educational field and create a new vision of the in-school world. Capabilities gained by involving Augmented Reality in university studies can definitely revolutionize the sphere. AR will be of great assistance in further professional training let alone hard and soft skills improvement.

Key studies

• Due to the growing popularity of AR, it is expected that in 2028 Augmented Reality market size will be worth $340.16B with CARG 43.8%, Grand View Research, Inc. says.
• Nowadays we obviously tend to leave conventional methods of learning in the past. The educational system is being modernized step by step and an increasing economic tendency in the technology industry of education is proof of it. It is estimated that by 2027 EdTech is going to surpass $680.1 billion with an annual growth rate of 17.9%.
• Being innovative and trendsetting, AR occupies a noticeable position in the educational technology sphere. By 2023 the rate of AR in EdTech will potentially get to the point of $5.3 billion. This, in its turn, will reveal the hidden potential of AR implementation in the field of learning and boost a great shift in traditional education.
• As Augmented Reality enables interactivity and in-game learning experience, we can notice that about 68% of those who learn through gamified methods are more absorbed in the process than those who are taught with the help of conventional techniques.
• Another advantage of AR in classrooms is its availability. About 73% of students worldwide currently have smartphones and this is more than enough to conduct classes with adding AR features. This is one of the main examples of how AR differs from VR, where various hardware is necessary for its efficient use.
• Augmented Reality also activates one of the most effective ways of information consumption. According to most research, humans get a significant layer of information (70%) with the help of their eyes. And AR allows students to visually perceive learning materials that increase the efficiency of the studying process. To better the quality of education with such innovative methods, it is rather important to use high-resolution teaching materials.
• Other indices concerning the concept of Augmented Reality in the sphere of education and learning are mentioned in the study by Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute in 2018. It was emphasized that between 2018 and 2028 there will be 2.4 million unfilled positions due to a lack of professional skills. The main reason for that will be the absence of practical experience and general competency. This is where AR comes in handy with its engaging visuals and practical potential that gives trainees an opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge.

Advantages of Augmented Reality in Education

A highly productive learning method. AR is what triggers students’ visual perception with its immersive experience which includes voice technology and visual effects. As the target is our most commonly used sense of perception, it currently places Augmented Reality learning among the leading educational concepts. The capability of applying theory to practice boosts greater results and better progress for students. And this is achieved by seeing needed materials with their own eyes.

Availability of study materials. Obviously, Augmented Reality will reduce the number of efforts for teachers who make printed materials and save money for students who pay for textbooks and other additional sources of information. If adapted for different ages and subjects, it won’t be limited at all. AR can be used in nursery schools and on-the-job training with learning materials of any type that are easily accessible at any place and any time.

Engrossing learning and motivated students. As Augmented Reality offers gamification, it’s becoming easier to implement interactive ways of teaching and get learners involved in less exhausting activities. With three-dimensional objects, it gets much less difficult to understand a particular subject matter. That’s why the in-game environment enables the vast majority of users to develop practical skills and enhance their learning opportunities.

Advanced technologies draw students’ attention in a much more effective way than outdated textbooks and other printed materials. Old 2D printed images could be augmented and turned into 3D. It moves eLearning to a whole new level. Augmented Reality glasses and applications help learners stay focused on the subject of discussion that in the long run influences academic performance in a good way. The thing to remember is that creating AR apps requires professional help from Augmented Reality developers.

Applying theory to practice. There is always a moment in a person’s life when it’s time to practise whatever knowledge they gained during their study. Apart from the shortage of experience, a newcomer can also face loads of responsibility in a particular occupation. This is where AR capabilities are necessary. Performing a heart surgery or repairing a space shuttle in AR mode can become a routine. It can successfully reduce the stress level and increase safety during such operations. This won’t put anyone in danger and save a huge amount of money.

So the task is to reproduce accurate conditions of real-life situations which can happen in working practice. This is how Microsoft Flight Simulator works, where pilots can train in mixed reality headsets and virtual reality.

Developing communicative skills. Socializing in class is what builds a student’s personality. Augmented Reality can enhance the communication field and become an effective way to collectively discuss the subject matters and learn efficient skills for future collaborations. It can also help master teambuilding and better overall teamwork by leaving comments, modifying objects, practising student-teacher interaction, etc.

Use cases

Now that you are acquainted with what Augmented Reality is capable of, it’s high time you learned about the ways of its involvement in education and learning.

How to use AR in a classroom? The first and foremost method is to use Augmented Reality applications in schools. Rich and immersive visuals combined with some difficult geometry topics can be extremely helpful for its understanding. What’s more, pupils will always be able to train their skills in a three-dimensional space with the help of mobile AR apps. This, in its turn, is a useful way to teach hard sciences.

It’s possible to apply AR to any subject such as language learning, physics, geography, chemistry, etc. It seems to be a good way to help learners develop spatial thinking, isn’t it?

So the key element of the Augmented Reality use during classes is a visual representation that enables students to practise and improve their skills. And there is a gripping way to activate AR within a classroom. Specific cards and textbooks can be purchased in major stores in Europe. After scanning such cards and books with your smartphone camera, you can get rich AR experiences that include 3D, audio, video and start learning. This is how nursery kids or grown-ups can develop logical thinking through an immersive environment.

Distance learning. Yet another reason to use Augmented Reality is that with AR any in-class teaching material can be revealed right in a student’s house. Consequently, any subject matter can be explained in an easier way even during distance learning.

Novice and on-the-job training. Not only schooling but also professional training can benefit from using AR. Imagine trial periods or apprenticeships spent within an immersive environment that Augmented Reality offers us.

Practically AR can significantly facilitate recruiting and trainers’ efforts by decreasing expenses for real equipment or whatever is needed to provide courses for staff development. It seems that previously VR technology has successfully coped with this task. Nevertheless, from time to time it looks like a theoretical basis that is not highly efficient for those who work at factories, warehouses, etc. While Augmented Reality is what combines a real-life environment with a rich and immersive experience that with overlaid instructions creates a strong fundament for further professional development. AR helps to overlay physical objects with virtual content to provide additional information and education. Using AR, businesses can avoid accidents and risks of newcomers.

Among the examples of companies that currently use Augmented Reality in their business, there is a large manufacturer ARGO. By implementing a hands-free device called AR Glass they managed to better cope with the number of hours spent on the most time-consuming processes. Now workers can get a detailed manual about whatever topic they need and by operating Glass with the help of voice commands, the staff is able to provide inspection and production services. For better teamwork, co-workers who wear Glass are able to capture and transmit images & video content they see to each other’s devices.

Yet another example of applying AR during manufacturing is the on-the-job learning in the Siemens company. Here, Augmented Reality helps trainees to become professional welders. And it is reported that such a method eases the whole process of mentoring and optimize risks.

Improving a customer journey. Apart from educational purposes, Augmented Reality can help your business get a second wind. By developing an application that can give step-by-step instructions for your product use, you can become closer to your customers, as Hyundai did. The company has recently created an app that helps car owners to discover tutorials. Detailed instructions are provided when you scan specific parts of your car with your smartphone camera. AR overlays those parts with additional digital content and guidelines.

AR upgrades museums. These days more and more people are attracted to entertaining and interactive content that can be a difficulty for traditional spheres. However Augmented Reality can change public perception of such places as museums or libraries. For instance, AR content can be added to different paintings or sculptures, monuments, or other items of historic value. This is where various descriptions will be perfect for visitors to better understand what they see.

Where to find Augmented Reality examples for education & learning?

If you are looking for the top list of educational AR apps, your best choice will be visiting Catchar. Among all the pertinent information you will find numerous reviews from the Catchar team and screenshots in detail. By choosing suitable filters you can easily search for anything you need. You are also welcome to contribute to our website development by rating apps and leaving your reviews. You can as well press the “download” button and gain your own priceless experience.

How to develop AR educational apps?

• Establishing main goals and a target group is the first and vitally important step to create your educational & learning app. Depending on the age group and ultimate purpose of the application format and content of such an app may significantly differ.
• Doing market research is the next part of developing an Augmented Reality educational app. This is required in order to evaluate the future viability of your project.
• To test the feasibility of your potential application it is essential to create a Proof of Concept. Additionally, the designed tech stack has to go through an examination to accelerate your business goals.
• To determine your future objectives it’s also important to create a Minimum Viable Product. It’s an opportunity to engage early adopters for further successful product development.
• It’s high time you launched your improved product. Consider constant upgrading of your application to keep up with newly developed AR content.

AR editors. It is not a secret that any kind of application development requires professional support. Obviously, it is difficult to develop an app from scratch without any relevant knowledge. However, these days the modern market abounds in experienced Augmented Reality editors that help to create AR for non-technical users. Consider covering additional expenses for licenses or other necessary stuff.

Yet another advantage of using AR editors is their competence in getting through challenges that can appear while implementing the Augmented Reality content. With their CMS systems, analytics and SDKs in access, they are certainly an indispensable part of such processes.

Customized Augmented Reality apps. At present, there are two main competitors in the field of AR development. These are ARCore and ARKit software development libraries.

They are practically similar, but as for ARCore, it is applied in IOS. To meet competition the engineers have to constantly release upgrades. And the outcome of this rivalry is ARKit 4 that supports Depth API through Apple TrueDepth Camera.

The above-mentioned technologies are certainly not the limit. Below you can find other tools for a successful Augmented Reality implementation in the sphere of education and learning:

• Database: Oracle, MySQL
• Hosting: Amazon EC2
• Programming languages: Java, Kotlin, Swift
• API server: Node.js
• Push notifications: Firebase

How to promote educational Augmented Reality apps?

When it comes to promotion, Catchar will be the right solution. You will find yourself among professionals, who successfully further Augmented Reality applications. Our team will effectively spread information about your project through more than 30,000 connections available in social media networks, newsletters and chats. Catchar will help you find lighthouse customers for your educational/learning AR app.

Create an in-app manual. Provide users with comprehensive instructions on all how-to-dos of your application. It will certainly be useful to add detailed screenshots and videos of your Augmented Reality environment to better the user’s experience.

Make a demo video. Record videos where you cover the most popular topics about AR in education and learning. In addition, create the FAQ section that will save you from future misapprehension.

Enable users to share in-app content. The AR experience is better to be shareable. Thus allow your technology adopters to put hashtags and show off their achievements on social media networks.

How to hire professional AR developers?

Nowadays Augmented Reality development requires sophisticated and professional skills that can evolve into a high-resolution, immersive environment.

When creating an app for educational purposes, it has to be both informative and interactive to simultaneously provide deep knowledge and draw students’ attention. So it is obviously of high importance to be in partnership with real professionals that are ready to provide high-quality service.

Why choose Catchar among all currently available offers on the market? Our team concentrates only on the most professional developers. You can easily find and hire a suitable specialist who can discover the best approach to your Augmented Reality app development. Feel free to contact our mentors or team leaders and build your Augmented Reality experience with us.