I have always been a fan of using the iPod touch or alternatives to laptops in the classroom. One of the challenges has been finding legitimate academic uses for these tools in the classroom.

Last week, I saw a video on YouTube that really got me thinking about the future potential of these devices, not just as novelties, but as truly transformational tools for education.

The concept of augmented reality is not a new one. Essentially this technology takes virtual information provided by software, and utilize real-life images and video. What makes this kind of app appealing is the fact that it is able to do this in real-time, and it uses the GPS in the iPhone to find your location.

While this video shows an example of public transportation, I wondered how could something like this be used in the classroom. That’s when I began to get excited. What if this technology could be in the classroom within the next year (assuming Apple puts a camera into the next iPod)?

One of the ideas that came to mind using this technology with Science. Our school participates in a Science Olympiad each year, and one of the topics is natural science, where students go outside of the building, and identify trees, leaves, and other aspects of nature that they are learning about. Typically, the students are lead by one staff member as they go on a nature walk. Most of the time, the staff member is not an expert in every aspect of the nature walk because we rotate teachers for the Science Olympiad. I know this because, I have been one of the people assigned to nature walk the last two years! But what if the students had iPods with this technology, and I geotagged photos of the things I wanted them to see on the nature walk? The photos could help them identify the various items, and could even link to more information on the web. Students could use this to help them answer questions about the items they are looking at.

Another example of Augmented Reality software is a free app called Layar. Layar allows users to utilize the camera in their iPhone with a browser laid over the live feed from the camera. The Layar browser allows users to find different points of interest, as well as a variety of commercial options. This type of browser lets the user move the camera 360 degrees, and click an icon tied to a geotagged location to find out more information. This type of technology has the potential to allow students completely new ways to interact with content.

I think there could be many other uses of this technology, but it is interesting to think about how it could change the way students learn. This technology could empower students to be learners and problem solvers far more than a teacher simply leading the class to what they needed to learn. It allows students find answers for themselves.

If this technology was available and somewhat easy to use, what uses could you see for it in your classroom? Can you use it for virtual field trips? Do you think it helps to make students 21st Century learners?