This post follows on from a previous post on augmented reality and Zappar.
How did you come to know about the Augmented Reality (AR) app Zappar?
Wenes Gunawan, Learning Technologist, introduced me to Zappar as another option to engage students. As my students are often working and so time poor, it appealed to me as an option for easy access by the students. An app they could use on their smart device anywhere! It is a fun way to introduce the subject to the students – information by way of short snappy videos, a link to the relevant professional body and brief written documents. In essence, the app enabled students to view the various subject topics in a user friendly way, giving them a taste of what was to come in the subject.
How did you incorporate it into your subject?
My subject, Legal and Professional Skills, is the foundation subject of the Graduate Certificate in Professional Legal Practice (PLT). It is an eclectic grouping of skill based topics. In working with Wenes the aim was to engage the students with a ‘taste’ of the course rather than provide detailed information. Effective Communication is one of the topics, so a quirky video demonstrating a mime action and the importance of communication was used as one of the links. It was used as an introductory tool – with the Zappar code available to students via an announcement on UTSOnline. This was done in Week 1 as part of preparation for the subject.
What was the feedback from your students?
Those who did access the app stated it was fun, easy to use and provided some information on the subject.
Tell us your feedback on using Zappar.
Zappar is a wonderful tool. I would like to use it for a first year subject with the aim of demonstrating to students early that UTS considers alternate options to engage with them. In PLT the students are at the end of the study and maybe disengaged with new avenues to access information notwithstanding convenience and introductory benefits – they just want to finish their study.
Any advice on trying out technologies to be used to create a unique learning experience to help students?
It is important to engage with students in a variety of ways and to continually explore options to capture their interest and importantly to demonstrate that we as educators consider alternate means to provide information to them. Maybe students could be encouraged to create a Zappar code for a learning project.
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