Augmented Reality in Education: A Study on Preschool Children, Parents, and Teachers in Bangladesh

Abstract

Augmented reality (AR) is a technology that is being used in various aspects of life, including education. Many studies have been performed to investigate the effectiveness of using AR in educational settings. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of AR in teaching preschool children in a developing country such as Bangladesh. To conduct the study, we have developed two AR-based apps for Android using marker-based tracking techniques. We have run our study in a classroom of a school in Bangladesh where 25 students, 13 parents, and three teachers voluntarily participated. We taught students using our AR apps and evaluated their learning improvements through pre- and post-test results. The results show at least 30% learning improvement. We have observed children’s reaction and engagement, and surveyed parents and teachers for acceptance of such technology and suggestions for improvement. Our preliminary study finds that AR can be useful for preschool students learning in a developing country such as Bangladesh. Through our study, we also identify a list of requirements for designing and developing an AR app for education.