The goal of this project is to transform the 5th grade technology lab into a student-centered innovation space where learners move beyond consuming digital content and become creators of interactive 3D experiences. Our students already have access to a class set of Merge Cubes, providing the foundation for immersive learning. This grant will provide access to the newly released web-based Merge Creator platform, allowing students to design, build, and publish their own augmented reality creations. Through this hands-on experience, students will learn to use technology as a tool for creativity, problem-solving, and communication. They will develop digital design skills as they plan, build, revise, and showcase their own 3D creations.
Students will use Merge Creator to explore the process of designing, creating, and sharing augmented reality experiences. Students will begin by exploring how real-world objects can be transformed into digital creations by scanning objects from their environment and bringing them into an interactive 3D space.
As students develop their projects, they will create and customize 3D objects, add multimedia labels including text, images, audio, and video, and incorporate animations and interactions to communicate their ideas in new ways. Students will use the Merge Cubes already available in our lab to view and interact with their completed creations in augmented reality.
Students will build confidence as they explore new technology, take creative risks, and improve their designs. They will strengthen their problem-solving skills through the process of planning, creating, testing, and revising their projects. Students will have a new way to communicate their ideas through interactive 3D projects while taking ownership of their learning. Through these experiences, students will begin to see themselves as capable creators and innovators, not just users of technology.
Funding will be used to purchase a one-year Merge Creator Classroom subscription at a cost of $499. This subscription will provide 5th grade students with access to the web-based tools needed to create and share their own augmented reality experiences.
