Technology innovation using AR and VR in Primary School Classrooms with Niamh O'Sullivan

This episode focuses on how Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) are being used innovatively in primary school classrooms to enhance teaching, learning, and assessment. Niamh shares practical examples where these technologies have created immersive, interactive environments that support student understanding and engagement, particularly in subjects such as science, geography, and mathematics.

The episode highlights the benefits of using AR and VR for formative and summative assessment, allowing teachers to observe how students apply knowledge in simulated or enhanced real-world contexts. These tools enable new ways of capturing learning evidence—beyond traditional paper-based methods—by focusing on student thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving.

Strategies for implementing AR and VR meaningfully in primary settings are addressed, with a focus on equity and sustainability. 

Al-Ansi, A. M., Jaboob, M., Garad, A., & Al-Ansi, A. (2023). Analyzing augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) recent development in education. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 8(1), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2023.100532

Hui, J., Zhou, Y., Oubibi, M., Di, W., Zhang, L., & Zhang, S. (2022). Research on Art Teaching Practice Supported by Virtual Reality (VR) Technology in the Primary Schools. Sustainability, 14(3), 1246. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14031246

Laine, J., Korhonen, T., & Hakkarainen, K. (2023). Primary school students’ experiences of immersive virtual reality use in the classroom. Cogent Education, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2023.2196896 

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