Next-Gen Tools in Literacy Improvement

Learning to read and improving literacy used to be dependent on traditional hard-copy books, but in the twenty-first century, educators have far more tools at their disposal. With guidance from innovative K-12 leaders, next-generation reading tools help student readers and writers maximize their literacy education, from audiobooks to augmented reality.

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Augmented Reality for Books Creates Stronger Readers

“Reading via augmented reality makes the experience more interactive. It can be a tool to hook a reluctant reader,” Jones says.

Print reading communicates visuals solely through text. Augmented reading uses apps to bring the visuals into a physical space as a 2D or 3D image. This can be done through projection mapping or spatial augmented reality.

Some apps require a headset while others are group experiences in public spaces, much like watching a theater production of your favorite book. Readers might experience action in a comic book or navigate difficult diagrams in a textbook, according to the Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education.

“Depending on the book, students can scan certain images using downloaded apps on a mobile device, and images will come to life as 3D visuals or videos,” Quilantán says. “This adds an immersive experience to books that are traditionally viewed as static. Not only does this increase engagement, but it helps students visualize their reading and boosts their imagination.”

Source: Alexandra Frost