(New Canaan’s HamletHub, 5/7/17)
Sixth through eighth grade students at New Canaan Country School have created interactive Augmented Reality projects which are now on exhibit in the Middle and Upper School buildings. Augmented Reality (AR) is a technology that superimposes a computer-generated image, sound or video on a real-life image, providing an “augmented” or enhanced view. Visitors to the exhibit can scan an iPad or mobile phone over each image to reveal a two-minute video created by the student.
“The students and teachers enjoy experimenting with cutting-edge technology and connecting the natural world with the virtual world,” said Country School’s Director of Academic Technology Aron Back, who has been working with science teachers to incorporate this technology into their classes.
“There is so much room for creativity with AR,” added Science Teacher Sanj Maliakal. “Because of that, there is a lot of buy-in from students about their learning and finished products.”
Mr. Maliakal’s seventh grade science classes created a complete exhibit of handmade masks featuring endangered species such as the nearly extinct narwhal, forest owlet and Amur leopard. By holding an iphone over the masks of each animal, a video appears which is specific to that species. It might include the animals’ movements, activities or sounds, along with pictures and narration.