Augmented Reality in chemistry teaching: the use of technology as an educational methodology

Abstract

The use of Augmented Reality (AR) has been increasingly expanded in education. It can collaborate with the teaching activity and arouse students' interest, stimulating the learning process. The functions available in educational AR applications allow the student to have an interactive view of the concepts and phenomena studied. For example, in chemistry, molecular applications virtualize flat surfaces into three-dimensional ones, facilitating the spatial understanding of compounds. This work aims to evaluate Augmented Reality applications and their contributions to the teaching of Chemistry. The research was conducted with undergraduates of a Licentiate in Biological Sciences. There were five methodological steps: Research of AR applications; Tests and choice of applications; AR workshop for teaching Chemistry; Application evaluation questionnaire; Data analysis. It was found that most students did not previously know the applications and their use in education. It was noticed that AR applications can boost the learning and understanding of Chemistry, providing more attractive and participatory classes. Furthermore, it is believed that AR technology can be better explored and used for educational purposes.