FOX West Texas – ASU partners with Creative Tech Company for Two New AR Apps
The two new augmented reality applications were designed to enhance student learning experiences in select biology and chemistry courses.
SAN ANGELO, Texas — A new Angelo State University partnership will enhance student learning experiences in select biology and chemistry courses with augmented reality.
The university partnered with the Groove Jones creative technology company to develop two new augmented reality (AR) applications developed for use with the Microsoft HoloLens 2 augmented reality/mixed reality headsets. The new apps are being piloted using more than 30 new headsets in sections of ASU’s freshman-level principles of biology course and junior-level organic chemistry course.
“These are both high-impact courses,” Dean of the College of Science and Engineering, Dr. Paul Swets, said. “There are a lot of students in these courses, and they are taken relatively early in critical degree programs. They are also high hurdles. There is more student attrition in these courses, and we are hoping the headsets and AR programs make it easier for students to learn and succeed.”
ASU faculty led by Dr. Greg Krukonis, associate professor of biology, and Dr. Saravanan Ramasamy, associate professor of chemistry, worked to adapt the chosen courses and integrate the new AR technology. The HoloLens 2 headsets feature fully-articulated hand tracking, voice command capability, eye tracking, spatial mapping, a large field of view and mixed reality capture.
Combined with the new apps and others available on the market, the headsets allow students to view and manipulate objects virtually, including:
- DNA, RNA and protein structures
- Human anatomy models
- Chemical compounds and bonding
- Atomic and cell structures
Certain sections of the principles of biology and organic chemistry courses will use the headsets and apps – and some will not – giving project leaders a good baseline for gauging effectiveness with student passing and retention rates as the primary criteria.
The project is being funded through ASU’s five-year Hispanic Serving Institution-STEM Grant from the U.S. Department of Education. Groove Jones was chosen as a partner after an extensive review of creative technology companies. The collaborative project is also prominently displayed on the Groove Jones website.
ASU project leaders will track the status and results for the two pilot courses over the next two years to determine the project’s success and sustainability, an ASU news release said.
Expanding the use of HoloLens 2 headsets into other courses could also open up possibilities to involve ASU computer science students and faculty in developing the new AR apps to go with them. ASU also retains proprietary and licensing rights for the new biology and chemistry apps.
The article originally appeared on https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/news/local/san-angelo/asu-new-ar-apps/504-1ce5398d-a8f4-49e0-b70f-8e6c11a8d2e3
Link to Case Study – https://www.groovejones.com/augmented-and-mixed-reality-stem-program-for-angelo-state-university
