What is it?
Aurasma is an augmented reality program that merges the real world with the virtual world, to bring inanimate objects, images, and real world locations to life.
It allows you to overlay an image or video on top of an already existing one. In other words, you can use an image as a trigger to launch an aura, or overlay. You can choose from Aurasma's inventory of already existing auras, or create your own.
For instance, your students can use their device to scan an image with the Aurasma app, and it could overlay to an aura of the teacher describing the image in detail. It works similarly to QR
Codes.
Let me show you an example of how it works. This is the bulletin board right outside the Media Center. If you want to check it out in person, just follow the directions on the bulletin board and watch Mrs. Smith's 2nd period class present some book talks. Click on the video below to view:
Aurasma is an augmented reality program that merges the real world with the virtual world, to bring inanimate objects, images, and real world locations to life.
It allows you to overlay an image or video on top of an already existing one. In other words, you can use an image as a trigger to launch an aura, or overlay. You can choose from Aurasma's inventory of already existing auras, or create your own.
For instance, your students can use their device to scan an image with the Aurasma app, and it could overlay to an aura of the teacher describing the image in detail. It works similarly to QR
Codes.
Let me show you an example of how it works. This is the bulletin board right outside the Media Center. If you want to check it out in person, just follow the directions on the bulletin board and watch Mrs. Smith's 2nd period class present some book talks. Click on the video below to view:
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Strengths
- Free to download and use
- Can be used in any subject and in any grade
- Lends itself wonderfully to anyone's imagination; the sky is the limit
- Can be set to private, with a link, or public
- Simple to use; see Ms. Richter on how to use it
- It's a lot of fun to use and view
Weaknesses
- Students must be able to download the app and have it on a device (phone, tablet, computer) with a camera.
- There have been instances where teachers have had difficulty having their students see their auras. It is key to make the aura public
- It may take some getting used to, but Ms. Richter is always willing to help you with it.
Ideas For The Classroom (There are SO many possibilities, but here are just a few ideas)
- Allow for More In-Depth Learning: As students read in their science or history book for instance, the teacher can create auras keyed to certain pages or images in the text. Then, as the students scan the image with their device, they are presented with a more detailed discussion of the topic. A chemistry teacher can have their class create a periodic table with the symbols for each element attached to an aura. Meanwhile, the biology teacher uses the same idea but substitutes a skeleton for the periodic table.
- Homework Help: Student can scan their homework, and up pops a more detailed discussion of the instructions or possibly helpful tips. For instance, a student can scan an individual math problem, and then be presented with a how-to video created by the teacher.
- Student Book Talks or Book Reviews: Students can create aura book reviews. Now, when a student wants to know what a book is about, they can scan the cover of the book, and they will be directed either to an online review of the book or review by a student.
- Make Your Word Walls Come to Life: Students can scan either an image or word and it opens up a definition, application, pronunciation or usage for the word.
- Student/Teacher Introductions: Teachers can create auras that are linked to their classroom doors. When the parent or student scanned the door, they would see a welcome video from the teacher. There are opportunities for students to make use of this as well. Imagine music or drama students before a concert or play connecting their picture with a video of them playing their favorite piece of music or acting out a scene from the play.
- Bring School Publications to Life: With Aurasma, you can add another layer of information to your typical school newspaper or yearbook. Scan an image of the football team and see a short highlight video from the season. Check out this video from Simpson College which shows how scanning their banner opens up an informative video about the college.
To create your account and start making Auras, click on this link: https://studio.aurasma.com/login
To download the Aurasma app, just download it from the App Store or Google Play.
If you are interested in creating Aurasmas with your class, please let Ms. Richter know and she will be HAPPY to help you out with it.
For a brief introduction, click on the video below:
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Let's share! Have you used Aurasma? Would you be interested in trying Aurasma out? Do you have any questions or concerns about Aurasma? Just post a comment or question below to get the conversation going by clicking on "comments."