How does augmented reality (AR) enhance the learning experience?

Augmented reality (AR) significantly enhances the learning experience primarily by providing interactive experiences with digital overlays. This immersive interaction allows learners to visualize and engage with content in a dynamic way, making concepts more tangible and accessible. For example, AR can superimpose digital information onto physical environments, enabling students to interact with 3D models or simulations that help to clarify complex ideas or processes. This hands-on engagement fosters deeper understanding and retention of information.

In contrast, replacing real-world elements with digital objects does not enhance learning since it can lead to a disconnect from reality, which is often necessary for practical applications of knowledge. Creating virtual classrooms, while beneficial in certain contexts, pertains more to virtual reality rather than AR's unique interactive overlay capability. Lastly, while AR can aid in simplifying complex subjects by visualizing them, the primary enhancement comes from the interactive nature of the overlays that engage students actively in the learning process.