Bee Aware
“Bee Aware” is an Augmented Reality experience that allows students to get up close and personal with the creatures living in their gardens. When learning about the ecosystem, many different critters play a major role in the growth and nourishment of the world around us, so I created a safe way to learn about bees without endangering us or the bees.
Learning in AR
Utilizing AR within education allows hands-on experiences to become self-led learning opportunities for all age groups. Bee Aware enables students to become more familiar with Augmented Reality learning methods, transforming the classroom experience into a 3D world where knowledge is obtained through interaction rather than textbook images. Therefore altering how a typical lesson can be taught by creating opportunities for collaboration, self-sufficient learning, and interesting visualization methods students can utilize.
“ This immersive interaction enables students to not only have access to experiences that aren’t feasible within the real world, but it creates a safe opportunity for them to learn in creative and modern ways. ”
FAQs
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Some of the key elements preventing AR within more educational spaces are the lack of infrastructure, tools, and knowledge regarding the Augmented Reality space. These hindrances limit the possibilities and advancement of educational opportunities within schools.
Additionally, due to fixed models of assessment and a lack of technological tools, the number of innovative forms of assessment is limited in schools. Hence not providing an opportunity for new technologies or methods to be implemented without overwhelming the teaching staff.
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The major benefits of AR consist of increasing the class’s engagement and interaction rates, and enriching the learning experience through firsthand experimentation. Additionally, introducing AR elements allows learning to be timeless and available in and outside of the classroom, utilizing sound, interactive visuals, and movement to increase the sensory development of students.
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The future of “Bee Aware” is limitless, as teachers could embed lessons into an AR experience, attaching their voice recording within the interaction in order to guide students through a virtual lesson rather than through a textbook. This concept could then be further developed into other areas of education ranging across a variety of classes (For example AR visualizations of Shakespeare, modeling, painting, interactive games etc). Allowing any open space to become a classroom, that is adaptable based on the needs of students.
Design Process
Throughout the creation of Bee Aware, Blender was utilized to create and animate the model whilst Adobe Aero brought the project into the Augmented Reality space. The learning process was thoroughly enjoyable, as the challenge of creating and designing the models brought opportunities for me to fully immerse myself in the 3D modeling world.
One of the bees within the scene was animated to add movement to the interaction, whilst the other bees and bugs are static so students are able to observe these detailed creatures without interruption. Small items were hidden within some of the pot plants to create an incentive for students to get up close and personal with all the elements of the scene, adding excitement to the interaction whilst allowing them to fully immerse into the experience.
If you’re curious or want to have a go, you’re more than welcome to interact with my project by following this link: https://adobeaero.app.link/5BKiXaoZ6ub
Exhibition
This project was created as a final-year design capstone project where I had the opportunity to be a part of the Design Festival Committee and display my work. I was fortunate enough to showcase the skills I learned to VIPs and guests at the QUT showcase.
Additionally, I also was able to showcase this project at an end-of-year QUT Reality Labs Exhibition where I showcased my work alongside other VR, AR, and XR pieces. Both of these experiences were extremely insightful and enjoyable as I was able to connect with talented and like-minded people.
My project is still visible on the QUT’s 2022 Interaction Design Festival Page.
