Educating with new technologies

Extended Reality for Learning

What is the value of technological tools in the teaching-learning process? What content do they transmit? Is the figure of the teacher crucial in the scenario that sees digital technology as the main actor as a transmitter of knowledge and experiences? Is it possible to measure and evaluate how much students learn using technology?

The volume offers an overview of the definitions and operating principles of augmented reality, AR, and virtual reality, VR, technologies; it examines their innovative potential in teaching and provides a critical analysis of risks and opportunities. In particular, the evaluation methods are analyzed, a fundamental aspect to verify the contribution that digital tools bring to the educational field. The text also presents systems and platforms for the management of data and contents that, even without particular IT skills, teachers and students can use in the creation of educational activities with AR and VR for learning purposes.

Finally, real tools used in the classroom are illustrated, as well as augmented and virtual reality applications used to study paintings and architecture in depth, virtual tours created by students to support their studies, and augmented reality for distance learning.

Roberto Pierdicca
is a researcher in Geomatics at the Polytechnic University of Marche and co-director of the GAP – Geomatics Applications and Processing lab at the Department of Civil, Building and Architectural Engineering.

Emanuel Frontoni
is a full professor of Computer Science at the University of Macerata and co-director of the VRAI Vision Robotics & Artificial Intelligence Lab.

Mariapaola Puggioni
architect, teaches Design, Construction and Systems at the G. Galilei Institute in Fermo, Marche. He obtained his PhD at the Polytechnic University of Ancona, thanks to research work on AR and VR applications in teaching.