Augmented Reality Sandbox as a Tool to Facilitate Learning for Undergraduate Students in the Bachelors Program of Earth Sciences

• Main Author: Offermo, Robin
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: Uppsala universitet, Institutionen för geovetenskaper 2016
• Online Access: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-296153

When we think of a map, most of the time, we think of the two dimensional map that is drawn on paper, or nowadays more often on the screen of a smart-phone. Maps are often either the starting point or the result of cartography and mapping and are used for many Earth science applications. Maps are also an excellent way to present vast amounts of data in a compact and understandable way. An augmented reality sandbox (AR-Sandbox) is a tool to visualise a topographic map in a 3D-model, something that many students struggle to do. It can be used as an educational tool to aid students in understanding concepts that involves maps and shapes. Educational science has been reviewed to find evidence for and against the use of the AR-Sandbox as an educational tool. The AR-Sandbox can be considered as a tool to facilitate learning in the bachelors program of Earth Sciences. To be most efficient it is to be used in groups of 2-6, based on its size, and also because small group learning and active learning increases efficiency of students learning. The AR-Sandbox will also assist students in gaining concrete experiences and to test new hypothesises.