Oregon Middle School Uses Augmented Reality in Classroom

From Patchogue-Medford School District: Patchogue-Medford continues to be at the forefront of educational initiatives on Long Island, and this time the learning experience comes in the form of augmented reality and technology via Finland.

Representatives from 3DBear, an augmented reality app based in Finland, came back to Oregon Middle School to review projects from students about how to utilize their app in a classroom setting. Oregon also won a 3D printer from the company because of one students’ idea related to the technology.

A couple of months back, Mid East Suffolk Teacher Resources and Computer Training Center sent a note to their email listserv about 3DBear, who was seeking schools to pilot their new app. Oregon filled out the form and were contacted shortly after by 3DBear’s COO and co-founder, Jussi Kajala.

They visited once prior in January to work with students, who were tasked with discovering ways to utilize the app in a classroom setting. During this meeting in February, students presented to the creators, the library was awarded with the 3D printer, and all students received t-shirts and a pizza lunch.

Oregon Middle School librarian Susan Sclafani suggested creative storytelling in augmented reality based on books that students have read.

Kajala thought this was, “absolutely thrilling,”

"Oregon Middle School library has been an absolute forerunner of using new technologies such as augmented reality in teaching,” said Kajala. “What is particularly fascinating is that their work focuses on what is pedagogically relevant in using new technologies in education. New 3D technologies are transforming the way we learn. Instead of describing a scene in a book that you have read you can visualize it in augmented reality.”

This idea won Makerbot's and 3DBear's competition of ideas for using augmented reality in education.

Added Sclafani, “This experience has been amazing both for myself and my students. I love that we all have been exposed to a new way of thinking about how students can learn. The students have been captivated by augmented reality from the second we started using the app. They are excited to try new things. Their enthusiasm is contagious as they show each other what they've discovered.”

The lessons learned through the 3DBear program highlight the points of science, technology, engineering and math in the classroom setting.

Photos courtesy of Patchogue-Medford School District