Suppose you are looking to make your learning content more interactive, immersive, and something that truly engages learners. In that case, augmented reality (AR) is one of such technologies that can enhance e-learning and make it more effective.
Imagine holding your phone over a biology diagram, suddenly a beating 3D heart starts pulsing on your screen. It allows you to rotate, zoom, or tap different parts, such as valves and arteries, to learn about them. Or picture an engineering trainee scanning a circuit diagram using his phone, and it shows a virtual 3D circuit functioning in real time. AR makes all of this possible.
What is Augmented Reality (AR)
Augmented reality is a technology that helps you overlay digital information, such as 3D models, images, videos, and text, over a real-world environment using smartphones, tablets, AR glasses, or headsets.
You may wonder how AR might achieve that. In tools like smartphones and tablets, it uses the live video feed provided by the camera, tracks the object in the video, places visual content at the right size and rotation, and outputs the final video with AR content.
In case of AR glasses, there is no video feed, so it has to place the visual to the lenses in such a way that when we see through the lenses, the visual data from AR content is blended with the real world rays, and it feels like we are witnessing the AR conten in the real world.
Harnessing the power of AR in eLearning
Since AR enables us to overlay the real world with interactive visual elements, it offers a powerful way to enhance eLearning. We can harness this power and integrate AR content with eLearning to make learning experiences more engaging, hands-on, and impactful. Learners can explore and interact with realistic AR representations of the subject matter, deepening their understanding through immersive experiences.
Benefits of AR
Improved Engagement and motivation
Learners may experience cognitive fatigue when learning via traditional eLearning elements, such as videos, slides, and texts. With a real-time, interactive experience about the topic, learners are fully immersed in the learning process.
AR provides a sense of presence through immersion, you can allow interactiveness through presenting a clickable 3D model of the topic for learning. Learners can interact with this model to know more about it, and such interaction-based learning improves engagement and motivation.
Example: Instead of providing a text-based PDF to train an employee about a fire extinguisher, if they are trained with AR to practice pointing and discharging a virtual extinguisher in an emergency simulation, they will be more engaged and motivated to learn.
Better Understanding of Complex Concepts
Topics such as 3D geometry, anatomy, mechanical systems, etc, are not easily explained with a 2D image; you can support learners with interactive AR-based animation to improve understanding of the topic.
AR allows you to project a 3D visualization that learners can rotate, zoom, or deconstruct. You can also embed information in the parts of the visualization. All of it allows learners to see how things work behind the scenes, which is not possible with a 2D image.
Learning by Doing
Chinese philosopher Xun Kuang once wrote, “Tell me and I forget, show me and I may remember, involve me and I learn”. This principle underpins learning by doing, which Augmented Realty facilitates beautifully.
AR can be utilised to provide hands-on simulations, to enable trial and error-based practice without the real-world risks.
Anytime, Anywhere Learning
Nowadays, learners prefer more flexible learning. As AR-based content can run on a smartphone, it allows anytime, anywhere learning. You can create AR-based learning content for a field, such as an AR app to identify machine parts with a how-to guide to support on-the-job training.
Practical use cases of AR in eLearning
Technical Training & Industrial Simulations
eLearning for technical training has been revolutionized with the introduction of Augmented Reality. Now you can overlay digital information over physical equipment.
Example: Volkswagen used AR for quality control by real-time visualization of component alignments and deviations in manufacturing processes.
Healthcare and Medical Training
AR is used in medical training to visualize anatomy, practice procedures, and receive real-time feedback related to the training.
Practical use case: The University of Edinburgh developed an AR application to help learners explore human anatomy in 3D, which improved understanding and knowledge retention.
K-12 and Higher Education
Augmented Reality has transformed the traditional way of learning into an interactive and engaging learning experience for students of all levels.
Real-world example: AR applications are used to simulate laboratory experiments, enabling students to visualize chemical reactions. It is also used for kids to learn and explore.
Onboarding and Workplace Learning
Augmented Reality can be used to streamline the onboarding process. Employees can be provided with interactive, real-time guidance to make them understand the workplace environment and protocol.
Example: S&P Global uses XR technology to onboard new employees to transform into a more engaging and effective training experience.
Compliance and Safety Training
AR allows you to create real-world scenarios in your AR device, so it is used in compliance and safety training. A risky workplace scenario is created in AR, and employees are guided on how to work with that scenario. If the worker makes any mistake, there isn’t any real-life risk as the risk layer was in the AR content, not in the real world.
Example: Honeywell provides immersive AR training to reduce workplace accidents.
Cultural and Language Learning
AR can be used to overlay translation, which can help people learn a new language. It can help with simulating a cultural environment, allowing learners to explore historical sites, museums, or traditional settings.
Example: Google Arts and Culture partners with museums and cultural institutions worldwide to create AR experiences that bring art, history, and culture to life.
Tools and Platforms for Creating AR Content
8th Wall
This tool allows you to create an AR application directly in your browser, without the need to download an editor. It makes web content so learners don’t have to install an AR app instead, they would directly play the AR content in their browser. It offers a free plan where you can create AR content for free, but there will be a splash screen of 8th Wall; you can buy the paid plan to remove that.
ZapWorks
ZapWorks is another browser-based AR content creation tool that allows you to create AR content with a drag-and-drop editor without coding skills. But they also offer their superior IDE called Mattercraft that allows you to create more advanced AR content if you have coding skills. ZapWorks is costly; they don’t offer any free plan.
Adobe Aero
Adobe Aero is a free AR authoring tool that is currently available in a beta version. It is designed for artists, designers, and educators. You can create an AR-based visual storytelling using its drag-and-drop interface.
Unity ( with Vuforia/AR Foundation/ARToolKitX/OpenXR )
If you are looking for something more advanced, something to create more complicated AR projects, you can use the Unity game engine with an AR plugin based on your requirements. These plugins have their features and limitations, so you will have to spend time first figuring out the right one for you.
Challenges to Consider
Device Compatibility
AR headsets are expensive, and every learner has different phones with different screen sizes and different budgets. Some low-budget phones, due to a lack of processing power, can not run AR content properly. It may lead to learners getting frustrated with a poor experience, lower course completion or engagement, and more.
To overcome this challenge, design AR content with a mobile-first approach and ensure it’s optimized for lower-end smartphones. Additionally, provide alternatives such as video walkthroughs or simulations for learners who may not have access to AR-capable devices.
Development and Maintenance Costs
Creating AR content involves several components: 3D modeling, animation, interaction design, and often custom programming. As a result, development costs can include hiring AR developers or design agencies, purchasing software licenses, creating 3D assets, and testing across multiple devices and platforms.
If you have less budget, you can start with a low-cost AR authoring tool such as Adobe Aero or 8th Wall. Use existing 3D assets. You should use AR content only if there is need for it.
Content Overload
AR brings the different experiences all together, learners may focus more on the “wow” factor than the actual learning in AR content. An AR scene shouldn’t be overloaded with too much information, floating texts, or overlapping visuals; otherwise, it creates a hindrance to memory retention.
To ensure AR content is effective, follow the instructional design principles and introduce AR elements gradually or contextually.
User Training and Onboarding
Some of the learners might be non-tech-savvy, and making them familiar with AR-based content would be tricky, as they may struggle with scanning markers or navigating AR environments.
Provide step-by-step instructions or video demos at the beginning of your AR-based learning content. Instruction should be minimal and intuitive.
Extra Tips
AR should be used to achieve something in the learning process. It shouldn’t be used just to bring a trendy feature to eLearning. If the goal is to teach the learner how to perform CPR, then AR content and its animations should show hand placement and compression timing. Using an intro animation showing a 3D ambulance pulling up might be engaging, but useless.
Final Thoughts
In modern-day eLearning, Augmented Reality is not just a buzzword or trend, but it has practical use cases and has transformed eLearning today. It allows learners to explore, interact, and retain knowledge in ways that traditional methods can’t match. But it also comes with challenges such as device compatibility, cost, and usability for non-tech-savvy learners, but its benefits outweigh the challenges.
I hope this article has cleared all the doubts about the usage of AR in eLearning. Are you looking to use AR in your eLearning content creation? Don’t forget to mention how you are approaching that.
FAQs
Augmented Reality in eLearning is the use of interactive digital elements, like 3D models, animations, videos, and text, overlaid on the real world through devices like smartphones, tablets, or AR glasses. It brings learning content to life by allowing learners to explore and interact with it in a more immersive way.
Yes, when used meaningfully. AR can significantly boost engagement, motivation, and understanding—especially for complex or hands-on topics. Learners get to interact with 3D visuals, explore scenarios, and practice in safe simulations, which leads to better knowledge retention.
Examples include:
Medical schools using AR to teach human anatomy in 3D.
Companies like Volkswagen using AR for quality control training.
Schools using AR to simulate chemistry experiments.
Organizations using AR for onboarding and safety training.
There are many tools based on your skill level:
No-code options: 8th Wall, Adobe Aero, and ZapWorks
Advanced tools: Unity (with AR plugins like Vuforia, AR Foundation, OpenXR)
Each has its pros and cons depending on your goals, budget, and technical expertise.
Not necessarily. Tools like 8th Wall and ZapWorks offer drag-and-drop interfaces for non-developers. However, for more custom or complex AR applications, some coding or help from a developer might be needed.
If AR doesn’t enhance the learning objective, it might just distract the learner. For example, adding flashy 3D visuals without purpose adds “wow” but not “why.” Always design AR content with a clear educational outcome in mind.