Blog Post 4: AR Tool For the Classroom

 Carissa Dembinski

Blog Post 4

    After doing some research into different VR and AR tools for education, I chose to dig deeper into Merge Cube. This AR tool really caught my attention when I began reading about it so I believe it would capture the interest of students as well. Merge Cube allows students to virtually hold artifacts and objects in their hands. A simple foam cube can transform into almost anything by simply holding it in front of a camera on one of the Merge's apps. Students can view the object or scene from different angles by rotating the cube. For example, the DinoDigger app would allow whoever is holding the cube to "hold" and observe dinosaur fossils as well as excavate them. When using the Hologlobe app, students could hold visualizations of Earth. Students would quite literally have the world in the palm of their hands with this tool. 

    This tool could really be used by anyone but I believe teachers could benefit from it the most, especially science teachers. Merge Cube can be used to create lessons and activities to explore STEM concepts, enable students to experience history and science, or illustrate complex systems. This tool would be a great way to get students engaged and keep them interested in something they would normally be bored by. To read and listen to lectures is one thing, but to be able to virtually hold and observe what is being taught is a complete game changer. 

    I believe this tool could have a positive effect on both students and teachers. Students will be way more involved in the lesson thus allowing them to fully take in the information and have an easier time remembering it. Many students are also visual learners so doing this kind of activity, rather than simply reading or lecturing, would be a huge help for them. This would also benefit teachers because it would allow for them to create fun and informative activities that will capture and hold their student's attention. The more interested the students are in the lesson, the more information they will retain, and the better they will do when it comes time to take a test on the subject.