The UK is facing a STEAM skills crisis. These skills are important for a range of industries from manufacturing to the arts. The supply of candidates into engineering (and more broadly STEM) occupations is not keeping pace with demand. The use of AR in education can transform the school environment to a more technology-friendly one, with a bigger variety of opportunities of learning for students. According to researchers the use of AR can increase the level of participation, understanding and learning, three key elements of all educational systems’ targets. Since previous information technology tools have already been implemented in the classrooms, the incorporation of AR in education is something that can be accomplished more easily, as students are familiar with handling devices already.
Within the internally-funded Augmented Reality for STEAM education (AR-STEAM) project, we seek to organize a series of events which would create a common space for teachers, policy makers, and technology providers to meet, exchange knowledge and experience in AR for STEAM education in order to help stimulate wider uptake of this technology. The project runs from 1.1. to 31.12. 2019.