HelpLightning AR in Education

School librarians aren't just there for the books. So many tools and programs have been brought in to school libraries to enhance student learning and provide opportunities for students to practice and gain skills that have real world applications. As curricular partners within their schools, "librarians are keenly aware of the importance of introducing all modes of material to support the work of the student" (Massis, 2015, p. 798). Makerspaces, coding, and Breakouts are just a few ways school librarians are engaging students in meaningful learning and critical skill building. Another way school librarians can support student learning is through VR & AR. 

Virtual reality "offers users a 360-degree view of a rendered scene," while "augmented reality superimposes an image, video, or other digital overlay onto a view of the real world in real time" (Goerner, 2016, p. 19). There are many VR and AR apps and tools schools and libraries are incorporating into instruction, including Google Expeditions, Aurasma, Popar, Oculus, Elements 4D, and more. By bringing VR/AR experiences to students, educators are providing "a new tool for student engagement, collaboration, and content creation" (Meyer, 2017). VR/AR have become valuable additions in the toolkit librarians and educators use to engage their students (Massis, 2015). 

One AR app that was designed primarily for customer service and technical support is HelpLightning. You can download HelpLightning as a free iOS, Android, or web browser app. When connected with another registered user, you can share virtual video experiences in real time. The idea is that a field expert can virtually reach out and model how to build, repair, etc, whatever the customer needs assistance with. HelpLightning provides several tutorial videos and demos for practical use. Watch this video for a brief overview of how HelpLightning provides merged reality with a virtual interactive presence. 

While not specifically designed for use in a school setting, HelpLightning does have applications for use in education. High school students taking technical classes could connect with an expert in the field rather than rely on the teacher's knowledge for instruction. For example, students interested in computer engineering could connect with someone in the field who could provide a real-time virtual demonstration. The school librarian could coordinate with the teacher to provide opportunities for students to connect with experts in the field they are studying. 

When VR and AR are incorporated in instruction, the experiences provide an "enhance delivery of information" (Massis, 2015, p. 798).  Educators and librarians can bring a whole new level of learning to students. VR and AR can "immerse users into the experience in a way that makes learning more meaningful" (Goerner, 2016, p. 19). 

Note: I can see how HelpLightning can be beneficial for high school students, but I have not been able to come up with good ideas for use with elementary students. If anyone has any ideas, please share! 



Resources:

Goerner, P. (2016). Augmented reality. What's next? School Library Journal, 62(9), 19-20.

Massis, B. (2015). Using virtual and augmented reality in the library. New Library World, 116(11/12), 796 – 799.

Meyer, L. (2017). Virtually there: Kids are using VR to explore worlds and create new ones. School Library Journal. Retrieved from https://www.slj.com/?detailStory=virtually-kids-using-vr-explore-worlds-create-new-ones