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Peer Review

Field Day - ARIS

Reviewed:
Jan 22, 2019 by Teacher Education
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Ratings

Overall Rating: 5.0 stars
Content Quality: 5.0 stars
Effectiveness: 5.0 stars
Ease of Use: 5.0 stars
Overview:

ARIS (Augmented Reality for Interactive Storytelling) is a free platform that allows users to create mobile-based tours, games and interactive stories. ARIS two key parts. One part of the platform is the editor, which allows you to build things (i.e., tours, games and interactive stories). The other part is the iOS app that allows you to play things you and other people have created. The app can be downloaded for free from the app store. At the moment, ARIS only runs on iOS devices (iPod, iPad, iPhone). Users will need the free online Aris Manual available at: http://manual.arisgames.org/ to explore and use the ARIS online editor. ARIS is open-source under the MIT license and free to use. The MIT License is a permissive free software license. 

Type of Material:

Development Tool

Recommended Uses:
  • Supplemental instruction in a variety of disciplines and at a variety of levels
  • Could be used to allow students to design their own games
  • Could be used as a tool for education students to evaluate games
  • Could be used as a research tool when investigating game-based learning
  • Individual, group, collaborative projects, homework, in-class, self-paced.
Technical Requirements:

ARIS works on iOS devices and requires an internet connection to play. ARIS consists of three pieces of software. Client (The iOS App) - to play games and collect data Editor - to make ARIS games. Server - Games live on a database in the cloud. The client and editor read from and write to it.

Identify Major Learning Goals:
  • Create, edit, and deploy games for learning
  • Situate learning in augmented reality scenarios
  • Apply theories to practice in game settings
  • Gamify learning
  • Add visual and audio elements (sometimes even kinesthetic) to learning activities
  • Research the impact games have on learning in a variety of disciplines at a variety of levels
  • Share games and research with the community to improve learning
Target Student Population:

High School, College General Ed, College Lower Division, College Upper Division, Graduate School, Professional

Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

Familiarity with situated cognition, game-based play and gamification, and the following features: Player location (GPS), QR codes, Bluetooth beacons (iBeacons), Image Recognition, Augmented Reality, Navigation of the on-screen map, Alphanumeric codes, Media collection, Social interaction around media collection

Content Quality

Rating:
Strengths:
  • Clear and concise website and instructions. 
  • There are models to interact with for those who like to learn by doing.
  • Samples are available to see how some have integrated Aris into content.
  • Well-researched concepts support the site and its various functions.  The creators also further research through their projects and publications
  • These games are at the forefront of learning technology.  With freeware, the potential is enormous for it to grow and improve exponentially
  • Can be used in an almost endless amount of disciplines and levels.
  • Can be used without an assignment, but would benefit from discussion (which generates naturally when used in partner/group settings)
  • There are tutorials (video and text-based) as well as a manual that can be printed.
Concerns:

None.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:
Strengths:
  • ARIS provides courses to teach you how to use their tools
  • Forums and professional development fellowships are available to support learning use of the tool
  • Efficient design of website and courses allows user to learn a lot in a short amount of time.
  • Can easily be integrated into pre-existing and new assignments in a variety of disciplines.
  • Games that are available to play online (such as Jo Wilder and the Capitol Case) include links to teaching resources and standards alignment.
  • Through interaction with a story, tour, or game (whether one is using one already built or building one's own), the user explores a virtual world.  This can be utilizing location information for a virtual field trip that might not be otherwise feasible.
Concerns:

None.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:
Strengths:
  • Depending on the game, the visual appeal can vary. Overall, games are well-done and of professional quality.
  • Highly interactive both in completely online/app environment and in AR especially
  • High design quality, some rival video game quality
  • App is free to download but requires an account to log in and use.
  • Users log in and if the activity is not complete, they can return to interact with it later.
Concerns:

Website navigation takes some time to get used to and isn’t always intuitive.

Other Issues and Comments:

only available with iOS devices at this time

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