Peer Review

Augmented Reality Zappar App for iOS

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Reviewed:: Aug 26, 2019 by Teacher Education

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Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:

Zappar allows users to connect to augmented reality in books, products, etc. that are available. The app is free. It is listed as an entertainment app. Using a separate app, users can create their own augmented reality (www.zapcode.it for a free trial.)

Type of Material:

Simulation

Recommended Uses:

Documented uses for this app include entertaining children. Users could with some innovation create some educational connections.

This might be an introductory lesson to teachers or students who will then follow through with work creating augmented reality.

Technical Requirements:

Requires iOS 7.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch.

Identify Major Learning Goals:

The intent of this app is to connect the digital world with the things around you using a predetermined Zappar image as a trigger. It provides an introduction to augmented reality using materials already available.

Target Student Population:

Elementary students through adults

Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

None needed. However, if you have an understanding of augmented reality works such as with Aurasma, then you will see what is intended with this app.

Content Quality

Rating:

Strengths:

Augmented reality can potentially offer some very powerful educational lessons and allow students to create exciting connections between augmented reality and actual reality. This app does not quite offer that opportunity at this time. The content is for the most part is predetermined--cards, calendars, hats, music, cases for devices, etc. You can search for possible images that Zappar has already linked to items as well, but the selection is very limited.

Concerns:

It is not clear until after the app is downloaded that you actually need to have items with the predetermined Zappar image on them for the app to work.

Content quality of the materials chosen for use with the Zappar app will make all the difference in terms of usefulness in education.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:

Strengths:

This app along with a Zappar image could be used to initially explain how augmented reality works with a trigger image.

There are no goals for this product. It is a tool. Educators will need to create or curate a selection of materials for use in their classrooms.

Concerns:

The app appears to be designed for entertainment and product promotion. It needs further development to really support curriculum development and sharing in a teaching setting by students and teachers.

The app does provide clues as to where to find materials to "zap" but few seem to be anything but entertainment.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:

Strengths:

Zappar is basically a scanner for the predetermined Zappar image. Much like a QR code, wherever that image is placed, using the app to scan it will trigger another predetermined image or video clip.

There is support within the app and a list of materials that users can acquire in order to make the zappar work. However, these are basically commercial uses.

Concerns:

If a user cannot find a Zappar image, the app states that not everything has a zapcode yet. The use of this app is currently very limited.

Not much in the app is related to education.

Other Issues and Comments:: Not sure about educational value of this app except as an introduction to augmented reality.
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