Sandbox AR from Discovery Education is an award-winning digital media platform that serves more than 4.5 million students worldwide across 140 countries. New to Sandbox AR is an app that was launched in 2022. The freeaugmented reality app, available on iPad only at the time of the launch, takes advantage of the device’s camera, display, motion sensors, and high-speed processors to meld reality and digital creations.
Using the app, students and teachers enter an empty space—for example, a school hallway—and hold up the tablet with the camera on. Instead of displaying the empty area, the app overlays digital creations in that space. Users can then move about in the real world to explore the virtual creation. For example, students can explore an ancient Roman city as if it were really in front of them. That opens up the possibilities for school trips, allowing students not only to travel the globe virtually but also to visit certain places in time. The tool will continue to grow. Development is under way for major events such as Tutankhamun’s 100th anniversary. Cost: Free app
Coursera has announced the addition of several ChatGPT-powered tools to its learning platform, including a virtual coach that has the capability to give feedback, answer questions, summarize learning materials, and provide career preparation.
XR Foundations Academy, a program of XR Terra, prepares students in middle school and high school with skills to begin creating meaningful virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) experiences for themselves and their communities.