AR Categories and Potential Uses in the Drama Room
In an article written by Steve Chi-Yin Yuen, Gallayanee Yaoyuneyong, and Erik Johnson (2011), “AR applications fall into three main categories: (a) presentation and visualization, (b) industry, and (c) edutainment” (p.123). Aurasma certainly falls within these categories, each one relevant in its own way to the drama curriculum. Firstly, presentations and visualizations are everyday occurrences in the drama room. Teachers can use this app to have students record themselves performing a piece inspired by a picture or an object. They will have opportunities to watch themselves perform in playbacks as they create their augmented reality with the Aurasma app. This will provide the students with self-assessment opportunities as well as provide immediate feedback from peers. This will result in a richer learning experience as students collaborate with one another. Regarding industry, students can research the theatre industry and various ways one might promote a production. Students could use Aurasma to promote their own show using AR, perhaps by adding a short “teaser” to a promotional poster in the hallways of the school. This gives students the opportunity to demonstrate their learning through creativity. Lastly is “edutainment” whereby students are learning course content (such as theories of acting styles) but the nature of the AR makes learning entertaining and fun thereby enhancing their learning experiences.