Professional development activity: Learn how to use a new tool intended for children and write about your experience
Topic: Digital resources/materials and emerging technologies
3DBear AR
3DBear AR is a design software that combines augmented reality (AR), 3D design, and 3D printing. Students use the app on their smartphone or tablet to create scenarios using the object library, photographs from their devices. They can also use the cloud tool to upload completed creations, scenarios, and movies to the dashboard for viewing. Teachers can then share drawings with student groups for additional debate and modification (3DBear Inc., 2017).
Immersive experiences that are light years above View-Master stereoscopic and even LEGO Boost are now possible thanks to emerging technologies. As virtual reality (VR) and AR gears become more affordable, these emerging technologies bring science fiction into the hands of students easily. According to the 2017 K–12 Horizon Report, they will be extensively accepted in two to three years and will become commonplace in two to five years (NMC, 2017; Oddone, 2019).
As I expect AR is the “MUST HAVE” items for the library, I need to explore in-depth how the library can adapt it into the lesson plans seamlessly and collaboratively with other subjects. In the 21st century learning environment, teachers and librarians’ roles shift from delivering knowledge to a guide of core concepts and provoke creative and innovative designs (Oddone, 2019). AR applications focus on providing pre-created animation or information that overlays reality when viewed through digital devices.
However, as with many interactive games in the market, it is too easy to get lost in playing. Without clear direction, students, especially the young ones, might not accomplish much beyond having fun. While that certainly has its place, I will find it easier to see the learning value when students are engaged in activities that allow them the flexibility and creativity they crave while meeting curricular goals and objectives.
My experience with 3DBear
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- Easy to start – After downloading and installing the app, there is a simple set up for the classroom, add students’ names and code. Students are automatically linked to the classroom after signing in.
- User friendly – The app has an enormous bank of usable characters and items such as dinosaurs, flowers and furniture. Students can start putting things in the scanned environment using augmented reality. Students can simply upload their creations to the dashboard and can be shared.
- Great support – 3D Bear has community and provides lesson plans for teachers and librarians as many of us are still on the exploring and experiencing stage. There are lesson plans available for pre-K, elementary schools, middle schools, upper secondary and libraries in ELA, Social Studies, Math, Science, Coding, Design Thinking, Computational Thinking, and STEM/STEAM. Within the lesson plans, teaching materials such as worksheets are offered.
- Distance learning – As AR does not require a headset, 3D Bear can be used for remote learning as well as school reopening. 3DBear is official partner of Google for Education and recommended by Google under “Resources for Distance Learning” (3DBear Inc., 2017).
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While 3D Bear focuses on providing pre-created animations or information that overlays reality when viewed through a mobile device, the suggestions below allow librarians and teachers to get students started with their creation (Young, 2020; Oddone, 2019).
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- Students can create digital storytelling or book recommendations.
- Students can find trigger images and view overlays to answer trivia questions.
- Students can recreate historical scenes.
- Students can visualize geometric shapes in 3D.
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This activity enables me, a school librarian, to learn an emerging technology to enhance the library program itself and create more collaboration with other subjects. The experience of using 3DBear is quite surprisingly easy with simple signup, and friendly tab. Of course the lessons plans are extremely useful as I have never engaged AR into my lessons before.
I expect students to be enthusiastic about utilizing AR for learning because they will find it engaging, interesting, and motivating, which will help them learn more effectively. Despite the fact that I only have a basic understanding of VR/AR, its success in engaging and inspiring students and providing a fun learning environment is in doubt. To bridge the gap, I’ll need to stay knowledgeable and up to date on current events. 3DBear offers educational trainings, a community for exchanging experiences, and a blog for information updates, all of which help me stay engaged. Reading relevant journal articles also helps me understand contemporary applications and their practical implications.
Reference
3DBear Inc. (2017). Immersive Technologies for Education. 3DBear. https://www.3dbear.io/
New Media Consortium (NMC). (2017). The horizon report: 2017 K–12 edition. https://library.educause.edu/~/media/files/library/2017/11/2017hrk12EN.pdf.
Oddone, K. (2019). Even better than the real thing? Virtual and augmented reality in the school library. Connections, (110), 3–4. https://www.scisdata.com/media/1921/scis-connections-110.pdf
Young, L. J. (2020). Get the most from AR/VR technology without breaking the budget. School Library Journal. https://www.slj.com/story/get-the-most-from-ar-vr-technology-without-breaking-budget-library