Holmdel Satz School Pupils Explore 'Augmented Reality'

HOLMDEL, NJ - Pupils of the William R. Satz Middle School are being introduced to "augmented reality" as part of a Google program and the new "Innovate Holmdel" initiative of Caren MacConnell. supervisor of Technology, Engineering and Media Centers.

Teachers Jennifer Flynn, Maurice Bell, Christen McCafferty, and Tracy Abrams had the chance to bring their classes to the Satz Library to meet with a representative from Google, who demonstrated some of their currently available "augmented reality" - AR- educational programs, according to a release from the district.

AR is a system in which people can view the world through an electronic device, and the device provides "overlays" of images and information on top of the view of the real world. Using cell phones running the Google Expeditions application, pupils were able to access the Satz Library but with some notable and colorful additions.

McCafferty's students were able to explore 3-D models of the planets of the solar system. The planets appeared to be floating in the air in front of the pupils; As pupils moved, their perspective of the planets changed, allowing them to view each planet from different sides and positions. They also examined the ocean floor, where they found creatures and treasure, the release said.

Another group of students investigated DNA - DeoxyriboNucleir Acid - and RNA or Ribonucleic Acid, the so-called building blocks of life, said McCafferty, the technology teacher. Led by science teacher Tracy Abrams, pupils examined an empty stretch of floor near where they were seated and through their AR viewers, examine strands of these building-blocks of life from different angles. They watched as the strands were "unzipped" into their constituent pieces. Abrams explained to pupils there was even an error in Google's representation of a DNA strand, which the students enjoyed, and which the Google representative assured would be fixed in the future.

Google's Expeditions program is one of several that offers pupils the chance to take part in educational opportunities that would otherwise be difficult or impossible. Google's inaugural Expeditions included a virtual trip to the Great Wall of China that allowed users to see a variety of perspectives and details as though they were actually there, without having to travel half way around the world.

A view of student backpacks. Photo by Amanda Mills/Associated Press.