An Approach to Developing Learning Objects with Augmented Reality Content

Augmented reality (AR) has become widely available to the general public. Diverse real-life AR applications, ranging from entertainment to learning, have been created. In this context, this paper describes a systematic approach to creating learning objects with an AR content. This approach yields seven steps to guide the developer: (i) requirements; (ii) design; (iii) implementation; (iv) evaluation; (v) packaging; (vi) distribution; and (vii) learning evaluation. To evaluate the proposed approach, a case study was carried out. We carried out the development and evaluation of learning objects with AR content in an elementary school. We also conducted a usability test with specialists and an experiment with 40 students, on the usage of a learning object with an AR content. The delivered lecture was compared with the use of learning objects with multimedia content (the traditional type). Post and pre-test evaluations were conducted to record the students' learning; these indicated that the proposed learning objects are more effective than the traditional type and can play a significant role in improving students' grades. As a result, we claim that the proposed approach efficiently guides the development of learning objects with AR content. Using the approach presented here, it was possible to conclude the following: (i) it can guide the developer to create learning objects with AR content; (ii) it can integrate learning objects into learning object repositories.