Analytical review of augmented reality MOOCs

Abstract

The aim of the article is to provide an analytical review of the content of massive open online courses about augmented reality and its use in education with the further intent to create a special course for the professional development system for the research and teaching personnel in postgraduate education. The object of research is massive open online courses. The subject of the study is the structure and content of augmented reality MOOCs which are offered by acclaimed providers of the world. The methods of research are: the analysis of publications on the problem; the analysis of MOOCs' content, including observation; systematization and generalization of research information in order to design a special course about augmented reality for the system of professional training and retraining for educators in postgraduate education. The results of the research are the following: the content and program of specialized course “Augmented Reality as a Storytelling Tool” for the professional development of teachers. The purpose of the specialized course is to consider and discuss the possibilities of augmented reality as a new direction in the development of educational resources, to identify its benefits and constraints, as well as its components and the most appropriate tools for educators, to discuss the problems of teacher and student co-creation on the basis of the use of augmented reality, and to provide students with personal experience in designing their own stories and methodical tools in the form of augmented books and supplementary training aids with the help of modern digital services.

Keywords

• massive open online courses
• augmented reality
• augmented books
• professional training and retraining

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Augmented reality is considered a world trend. Tim Cook, executive director of Apple, says he believes more in the success of augmented reality, rather than the virtual reality, since the former allows people to use new technology and stay in the real world; and he considers the augmented reality to be as “a great idea as smartphones” [ 26 ]. ___________________ Copyright © 2020 for this paper by its authors. Use permitted under Creative Commons License Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). Augmented reality allows you to combine the real world with virtual objects and possesses vast and diversified didactic learning opportunities. Use of augmented reality in education has been analyzed by numerous Ukrainian researchers, for instance Yevhenii O. Modlo and others presents using technology of augmented reality in a mobile-based learning environment of the higher educational institution [17; 18; 30]; Tamila H. Kolomoiets and others describe the use the augmented reality in teaching global reading to preschoolers with autism spectrum disorders [ 13 ], Pavlo P. Nechypurenko and others analyzed augmented reality in chemistry education [19; 20].

Consequently, we consider it very important tasks to train teachers to use it in the classroom.

UNESCO’s motto “Lifelong Learning” suit educators better than anybody else, since, despite their long working hours, sometimes lack funds and opportunities for official retraining, but should always remain at the top of education and research work, constantly updating the content of training programs in accordance with innovative educational processes and changes taking place in the world.

While solving the scientific problem of training educators for using the augmented reality in education, the following main results were obtained in past author works: the potential of the massive open online course (MOOC) phenomenon as an alternative form of teacher training (Coursera, Udacity, edX, etc.) was analyzed [ 23 ], the facet classification of the MOOCs was offered [ 22 ], the fundamentals of the specialized course “Digital Storytelling in Adult Education” were designed [22; 25], the form of co-creation of teacher and students in the educational environment was described [ 24 ]. 2

Research objective and methods

Therefore, the aim of the article is to provide analytical review of the content of massive open online courses about augmented reality and its use in education with the further intent to create a specialized course for the system of professional training and retraining for educators in postgraduate education.

The methods of research are: the analysis of the publications on the problem; the analysis of the content of MOOCs about augmented reality, including observation; systematization and generalization of research information in order to develop a specialized course about augmented reality for the system of professional training and retraining for educators in postgraduate education. 3

Results and discussion

MOOC (massive open online course) is a kind of online course in which a large number of participants (up to 50,000) can participate, with open access to all materials via the Internet. The most well-known providers of massive online open courses are Coursera [ 4 ], Udacity [ 15 ], edX [ 6 ], FutureLearn [ 8 ], the Ukrainian projects are: Prometheus [ 27 ] and Ed-Era [ 5 ]. Ed-Era focuses precisely on secondary education.

Researchers distinguish two kinds of MOOC, conventionally referred to as xMOOC and cMOOC [ 14 ].

The prefix “c” in the cMOOC name refers to “connectivism”, and such courses include George Siemens, Stephen Downes et al. [2; 28]. In connectivism’s courses, knowledge is created and generated as a result of course participants processing large volumes of unstructured information; such courses are a private initiative of individual members of the teaching community, and are usually not funded.

The second category of MOOCS, xMOOC, includes projects such as Coursera, Udacity, edX. Such courses are mostly content-oriented. They contain videos, questionnaires, tests; the educational information is clearly structured, and mandatory student knowledge control and duplication of knowledge is present.

Let us look at the content of some of the most recent MOOCs about the augmented reality (table 1). No

MOOC

Platform

Software of Augmented Reality

Brief Description technology’s, history, limitations and future potential for improvement.

Let us study these courses in more detail.

The first course “Getting Started with Augmented Reality” includes the following 5 modules: ─ Introducing Mixed and Augmented Reality ─ Augmented Books ─ Augment Your City Map ─ Augmented Reality with Geolocation ─ Customizing an Augmented Reality Game

Module 1. Introduction to mixed and augmented reality. The basics of understanding when working with computers and complementing reality, the basic characteristics of AR systems and the basic components of AR architecture.

Module 2. In this module, the user will create augmented reality application  augmented book with authoring tool (Fig. 1).

Module 3. In this module the user will build the application, in which a 3D model is added to a city map.

Module 4. This module is about the creation of augmented reality application – geolocalized quiz (Fig. 2).

Module 5. This module is about understanding the ARAF format for quiz and changing the behavior of this application.

The 5th module of the 21st Century Learning course [ 3 ] is dedicated to virtual and augmented realities. Students need to learn how to distinguish between games, serious games, gameplay, virtual worlds, and augmented reality. The module demonstrates using games as learning tools and changing people's behavior, as gaming can inspire students; exploring virtual worlds and virtual reality as learning environments; augmented reality as a learning tool for the future. The course uses interesting videos, such as dinosaurs at the mall (from National Geographic [ 1 ]). The activity of the students in the course is to participate in the discussion and to describe their personal experience. At the end of each week, one of the developers of the course in the blog summarizes the results of the discussion. In the discussion, students list the applications they worked with, such as Sky Map, as well as zoo burst (http://inform-lider.blogspot.com/2013/10/3d-zooburstcom.html). This course can be categorized as cMOOC.

The second week of the course of the Internet of Things & Augmented Reality Emerging Technologies [ 7 ] on Coursera platform is dedicated to the augmented reality. Lectures cover the purpose and main functions of the AR. The characteristics and a brief history of virtual and supplemented reality are presented, some definitions of AR; AR technology and directly the process of AR and its stages are given. Tests that check the understanding of the lecture material are offered (Fig. 3).

Thus, the course consists of the following elements: video lectures with built-in questions, tests that help to recall and review the lecture material, a list of further reading, which for the second week of the course consists of only one article, which is indicated as optional [ 21 ]. There are no practical tasks in the course.

The Zappar Powered STEM Learning Using Augmented Reality 2016 is based on the use of ZapWorks software. ZapWorks is a complete AR toolkit created by Zappar [ 32 ]. It allows different users to create their own AP experience. ZapWorks includes three tools: widgets, designer and studio. In this online course, a simple “Designer” tool is used (Fig. 4).

The course consists of 9 small simple modules: 1) introduction to the course; 2) what is added to reality; 3) the objectives of the course; 4) introduction to ZapWorks; 5) creation of a ZapWorks account; 6) explanation of the cycle of water circulation (Fig. 5); 7) preparation and planning of the poster; 8) designing a poster; 9) the experience of creating an augmented reality. Each module contains a brief video lecture, its text summary, and tests. The sequence of creating augmented reality in this course is as follows: 1. choice of own multimedia content and decision on how it will be presented; 2. adding button images, video, links, audio; 3. adding different “scenes” that are similar to slides in PowerPoint; 4. adding conversions so that content is displayed in a variety of ways; 5. adding actions to allow users to interact with the content.

The authors also provided small guidance for 4 lessons on the use of this tool in 5th and 6th grade secondary schools [ 33 ]. “Introduction to Augmented Reality and ARCore” [ 11 ] teach the fundamentals of augmented reality and how to build an AR experience using ARCore. The 4 units of course are: “Introduction to AR”, “The basics of AR functionality”, “Taking the next steps with ARCore”, “Bringing ARCore to life”. The course is great for beginners who are just getting started with AR or ARCore. Authors consider advanced 3D design tools like Maya, Zbrush, Blender, and 3ds Max powerful professional tools; and Google’s Poly (repository of 3D assets) can be a good starting resource for building first ARCore experience. In the course next resources proposed: Poly, Tilt Brush, Blocks, Google Development Portal, Unity, Sceneform. The users must fill the spreadsheet and describe the technology they learn about (Fig. 6).

The topics on course discussion forum are: “Looking to the future of augmented reality”, “Understanding AR essentials”, “Thinking about your users”, “Your own AR journey”.

“Introduction to XR: VR, AR, and MR Foundations” [ 12 ] is the first of the three planned courses in Unity's XR Specialization. This course is an introduction to XR (AR, VR, and MR), and briefly describes each technology, its history, limitations and future potential for improvement. The users will create two simple applications on their own smartphone: a virtual reality museum and a handheld augmented reality application. The user will brainstorm, define, and visualize their own original concept for an XR application and participate in a peer-reviewed activity. There are peer-graded assignments: brainstorm XR application ideas and XR product brief. In the Table 2 we present some features of Coursera’s MOOCs about augmented reality (as in January, 2019). All of the courses are introduction courses and not oriented towards educators. We think, it’s possible to use the fragments of these courses in the framework of blended education of educators. Course Score Ratings Reviews Introduction to Augmented Reality and ARCore 4,4 495 150 Introduction to XR: VR, AR, and MR Foundations 4,8 6 2 Getting started with Augmented Reality 4,3 133 30 Taking into account the purpose of our article, that is the development of the content of the special course for educators on the use of additional reality in the educational process, we offer the augmented books as a practical component. An augmented book represent a physical or digital copy of a traditional book that contains text and illustrations, and which is connected to additional, non-traditional content through the technology of augmented reality. When the reader accesses the book page for which additional content is specified, the smartphone or other device reads it and displays this additional content on the screen. Additional content may represent a simple image, video file or audio recording, and also be complex, representing animation, play, or interactive activity.

Researches place the augmented books between virtual and mixed reality books on the corresponding reality  virtuality continuum, presented in Fig. 7.

The author module “Augmented reality as a tool for storytelling” consist of next blocks: ─ thematic plan of the module (Table 3); ─ content of the module by themes; ─ lecture plans; ─ plans of practical classes; ─ independent work of students; ─ practical tasks for self-control; ─ recommended reading. “Augmented Reality as a Storytelling Tool” lecture plan

Determining reality-virtuality continuum. Virtual reality. Augmented reality. Mixed reality. Examples of application of augmented reality in various industries. Augmented reality in education. Massive open online courses on augmented reality. Tools and platforms used in the augmented reality landscape. Digital storytelling in adult education. Augmented reality as a storytelling tool. 1. participate in discussion of “Introduction to Augmented Reality and ARCore” course discussion forum in the following topics: “Looking to the future of augmented reality”, “Understanding AR essentials”, “Thinking about your users”, “Your own AR journey”; 2. create a sample augmented book about Maria Primachenko’s artwork (according to the guidelines of course “Getting started with Augmented Reality”); 3. analyze the video about an augmented book from Ukrainian company Live Animations & Little Hippo. The company has released 4 world-famous children’s books with Little Hippo: “Little Red Riding Hood”, “Three Little Pigs”, “Velveteen Rabbit”, “Masha and the Three Bears” [ 16 ]; 4. find and analyze some augmented books according to the professional interests of the student; 5. discuss how augmented reality can help the following: 1) allow student to construct their own understanding or experience in a content area; 2) facilitate collaborative activities in which students work together in small groups; 3) promote in-class discussion; 4) help learn problem-solving and critical thinking skills; 5) help understand complex ideas; 6) introduce student to new content [ 31 ]; 6. design and create a fragment of their own textbook with augmented reality. We believe that an augmented textbook is a new educational tool, it can contain fragments of video lectures, electronic pads such as Padlet, augmented quizzes, animated tours in the history of the problem being studied, in-depth exercises, and so on.

We also think that the use of additional reality technology will facilitate the cocreation of students and teachers. We understand co-creation [ 22 ] as a joint creative activity of a teacher and a student, aimed at developing the educational environment and ourselves in this environment. Because “the environment begins where their meeting occurs and where they jointly develop or build something” [ 29 ]. 4

Conclusions

Thus, the augmented reality can provide modern education with new didactic measurements and tools at the teacher and student level, contribute to a better understanding of complex topics, visualize hidden processes, which makes it acceptable for adults and people with disabilities. On the basis of the analysis of the content of the massive open online courses about augmented reality offered by well-known providers of the world, the author’s specialized course “Augmented Reality as a Tool for Storytelling in Adult Education” is proposed for the system of professional training and retraining of teachers. The purpose of the special course is to consider and discuss the possibilities of augmented reality as a new direction in the development of educational resources, to identify its benefits and constraints, the components and the most appropriate tools for educators, discuss the problems of teacher and pupil co-creation on the basis of the use of augmented reality, and to provide students with personal experience in designing their own stories and methodical tools in the form of augmented books with the help of modern digital technologies.

The further development of the study is seen in the analysis of the specialty Unity XR on the platform Coursera as well as looking for ways to integrate augmented reality into existing learning management systems.

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