AugmentEDucation
by Eric De Boer
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VSTE Presentation: Harry Potter comes to School

12/9/2014

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Today I had the opportunity to present at VSTE: Virginia Society for Technology in Education.  I gave an Ignite talk, which has the unique format of 20 slides in 5 minutes.  The goal is similar to a TED Talk, where the presenter's goal is to "ignite" an idea in the audience and compel them to action.

My presentation focused on the ways we have been using augmented reality at our school this past year.  Examples included our yearbook, art show, library, chemistry, and biology lessons.  I also included an idea for using augmented reality to assist with homework questions (have your early finishers make it!).  

This was my first presentation at a conference.  Someone had approached me at an EdCamp and asked me if I would apply/present back in September.  I hesitated at first, then faced my fears and agreed to apply.  During the presentation, I was nervous, but had the support of my principal in the room.  

The overall experience was very, very positive.  So much so, in fact, that while I was at the conference this week, I completed an application for a EdTech conference coming up in March!
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A yearbook unlike any other

6/20/2014

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"My kids have been playing with their yearbook all weekend!"  This is a quote from a parent email I received after passing out our school yearbooks.  In our 56 page book, we managed to add bonus pictures and videos to 40 pages.  Each homeroom has a class picture on it, resource classes each have a video highlighting their experiences, sports pages have slideshows, and groups such as band have videos from their performances at Christmas or spring concerts.


Finally, the yearbook can be a way to truly chronicle the year's events.  Adding video memories help create a year in review for students, and it allows them to share the sights and sounds of some events with friends and family in a way they couldn't before.


The feedback I have received from this book has been overwhelming.  I think we may have just raised the bar in our yearbook expectations!

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No more yearbook deadlines through augmented reality

3/18/2014

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Anyone who has ever been in charge of the school yearbook knows how stressful the last few weeks can be.  Deadlines, misspelled names, layout tweaks, and missing pictures can all contribute to a frenzied finish.  And that's assuming all the orders have been processed!

I've published four yearbooks now: three in Philadelphia and one (almost two!) in Richmond.  Each one has been a labor of love.  Despite their troubles, I find them fulfilling.  It's all worth it when I see the eagerness in kids' faces when they ask if the yearbooks have arrived, listen to them squeal when they see their crazy teacher, or take their pen when they ask me to sign theirs for them.

99% of the yearbook editor's job ends when s/he submits the yearbook to the publishing company.  All that's left is for them to be distributed!  However, this means that none of the school events from the final few months of school can be captured.  UNTIL NOW.


Augmented reality works by a user setting a "trigger image" that causes an app to display other content when activated.  By setting each page in the yearbook as a trigger image, each page can come to life with additional pictures, slideshows, and videos.  These elements can be changed at anytime online via the Aurasma Studio interface.  

This added element means my yearbook team can continue documenting the school year after we submit the book.  This year, we're going to be able to include our official class pictures, which weren't possible before (they are taken in late April, well past our submission deadline).  We'll also do some interviews with students about the school year and maybe include a message from the teachers.

I'll have to post a follow-up after our book is finished, but here's a preview of what it might look like:

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    Eric De Boer

    K-8 Instructional Technology Specialist in Richmond, Virginia.  Lover of people and technology.

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