Teaching English Language

Learners
With Aurasma

Table of Contents
What is Augmented Reality?.........................................................3
How Does Aurasma Work?...............................................................3
Getting started with Aurasma...........................................................4
Viewing Content ............................................................................4
Sharing Content .............................................................................5
Creating On Your Device.................................................................6
Trigger Image Tips: .......................................................................6
For Users: ...........................................................................................6
For Devices: ........................................................................................6

Aurasma Studio..............................................................................7
Creating in the Studio ...........................................................................7

Your Channel ................................................................................8

Best Practices for ELL instruction .....................................................8
Introducing Aurasma to ELL Students................................................9
Device Setup........................................................................................9
Accounts ............................................................................................................. 9
Channels ..............................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Public vs. Private Auras ...................................................................... 10
The Aurasma ELL student guide ........................................................... 10

What is Augmented Reality?

Augmented reality is the overlaying of virtual information onto the real world.
This most common image of augmented reality is the heads up display in
aircraft. Position, speed, angle to the horizon, etc. are all displayed it front of
the pilot. While the heads up display has been an established technology for
many years, consumer level augmented reality is just beginning to take off
(pun most certainly intended). Advertisers are taking advantage of the
smartphone revolution to enhance typical print media with augmented reality
content. With the correct viewer installed on a smartphone, consumers can
see novel content in advertisements, books, and even landmarks and
locations. The Rolling Stones, for instance, used an augmented reality
marketing plan to promote one of their concert tours. Fans would look at
famous landmarks through their phones and a giant 3d gorilla, the bands
mascot, hanging from the structure.
Augmented reality is now making in roads into education. Exciting uses
include 3d models able to pop out of anatomy text books which can then be
manipulated on a device, hands on automotive training which highlights the
physical component to be dealt with, and interpretive information and media
targets to a specific location such as a landmark or a museum exhibit.
It is our belief that augmented reality can be successfully extended to
facilitate the learning of English as a second language using enriched media
and just in time information using the Aurasma platform.

How Does Aurasma Work?

Aurasma is an augmented reality creation and viewing tool. It allows a user to
create their content Auras on either a smartphone, tablet, or a computer
and to use their tablet or smartphone to view their content and that of other
users.
Aurasma content is linked to trigger images that must be scanned with your
mobile device. These triggers can but just about anything. QR codes, a page
of a book, a photograph, a logo, a store sign, or a t-shirt can all be made into
readable triggers.

The content that is brought to the user by the trigger image is called an
overlay. These media include audio, video, web links, and 3d models and
animations. Numerous media may be included within a single overlay.

Getting started with Aurasma

The first step to creating and viewing augmented reality content with Aurasma
is to download the program to your mobile device and create an account.
Please follow the steps below to configure your device:
1. Download the free Aurasma app to your smartphone.
2. Open the app
3. Select the triangle icon at the bottom of your screen. This will bring you
to the Explore screen
4. Select the image of a person in the bottom right corner. This will bring
you to the Me screen
5. Select Account in the top right corner
6. Enter your account information and select join.
You should now be ready to create your first augmented reality Aura!

Viewing Content
Aurasma content is organized by channels to help users find Auras they are
interested in and to avoid those they are not. As so many images may be used
as triggers, channels help users to avoid being bombarded by augmented
content. In order to gain familiarity with viewing augmented reality content,
we will be working with the metec510project channel, which will show you
the augmented reality content within this guide.
Please follow the steps below to subscribe to the channel:
1. From the main viewer window, select the triangle at the bottom. This
will bring you to the Explore window
2. Select the magnifying class icon at the bottom to enter the Search
menu
3. In the search window enter metec510project and select the first result
4. Select Follow

5. Return to the viewer buy selecting the middle icon at the bottom of the
screen (a square with only the edges showing)
6. Center the viewer on the image below (you may have to move back
and forward from the screen a little before the image will read

This should have triggered a video on English conversation practice. Notice

that there is an ETEC510 marker in the corner of the image. A common
marker is very useful in making sure users can identify where your content is
in the real world.

Sharing Content
Auras can be shared directly through your mobile device. While an Aura is
showing on your devices screen, tap the camera icon to bring up the sharing
menu. You can send the current Aura to a contact on Facebook, share it via
twitter, or save it to your device for later.
You can also share the channels you are following by going to the Account
screen and selecting the following tab. Select the channel and click share to
send it to a contact through email, SMS, Twitter, or Facebook.

Creating On Your Device

Lets get started with your first aura. Scan the image below to see how:

Trigger Image Tips:

Trigger images are what fill launch your aura. The best
triggers need to be clearly recognizable to both users and devices.

For Users:
-

Triggers should contain a common image or icon to alert your

users to the presence of your content.
Maintaining colour and design schemes will help with
recognition
Make sure images are space far enough apart so that you will
not have two in the same viewer window
While aurasma can view small images, larger images will
allow your user to stand further back and view the content
more comfortable

For Devices:
-

Use contrasting colours so the device can tell where one

object stops and another begins
Avoid images with lots of repeating patterns
Complex images with unique design work best
Printed triggers on flat surfaces will be the most reliable.
Images displayed on computer screens may be more difficult
use to the different lighting and display configurations.
Changing the image proportions results in a totally new
image for the device. Make sure it is exactly the same each
time to ensure reliability
Scan each image below to see how the app reacts to both
poor and good trigger images

Aurasma Studio
Aurasma studio is the online workshop for creating and managing your Auras.
Scan below for an overview tour of the studios main features:

Creating in the Studio

To begin a new aura in the studio, click Create New Aura in the top right
corner of the home page. On the next page you will create your trigger
image. You may upload a new image from your computer or select a
previously uploaded image. Please note that Aurasma will only work with
trigger images in the .png of .jpeg file formats. If you are uploading a trigger
you will have to option or setting coordinates so that the content can only be
triggered in a specific location. After you have filled in the relevant
information or selected a previously uploaded image, you will be moved to
the image masking window.
Image masking is used to improve the quality of a trigger image. If large parts
of the image are not useful, i.e the are all the same colour or have repeating
patterns, we can tell the computer to ignore them by drawing masking shapes
on the image. The image opacity slider will make the masking images more
or less visible to the editor but these will not show up in your final aura. When
you are satisfied with your image click the next button at the top of the page.
In the next window you will add your content overlays either by uploading a
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file or selecting a previously uploaded overlay. Aurasma can use MP4, FLV,
PNG, JPEG and .TAR (3D) file formats. HTML5 websites can also be used but
will only work on Apple devices.
At this point you can preview your aura using the button at the top of the page. Once you
have added all your overlays, select save. If you are ready to publish this on your
channel, select the share button in the top right corner. You can unshared your auras from
the same location at any time.
Scan below to view an example of an aura creation and some of the more
advanced overlay features:

Your Channel
A channel is automatically created for each account. It is recommended that
accounts for school use clearly identify the school in the user name and are as
simple as possible.
On your channel you may have both public and private auras. Public auras
will be visible to anyone following your channel and private auras will only be
viewable when logged in to the account that created them.

Best Practices for ELL Instruction with Aurasma

When you are designing auras for use in an English Language Learning
environment, there are some key points to keep in mind:
1. Hardware must work consistently. Nothing kills engagement faster than
malfunctioning technology. Make sure to pilot test each device and all
of the auras
2. Content should be short and to the point
3. Emphasize audio and visual media as these are the biggest advantages
of augmented reality over traditional print.
4. Guide students through the process of creating their own auras. By
creating their own material, students will create more links to
vocabulary and meaning as well as developing fluency in using the
device and software

5. Upload a number of trigger images to student accounts and provide

them with printed copies that they can apply to their environment
(make sure to use an appropriately removable adhesive!). This
removes one more technical barrier and helps the students to make the
content the focal point of the experience.
6. Have students share the auras they find, discover and invent both with
other ELL students and students whose first language is English. The
conversations around both the technology and the content will be
important building block for the students and help to remove some of
the isolation that is innate in learning a new language and environment.
7. Encourage students to edit, update, and remix content. Reviewing and
revising can help students to monitor their own progress and the
updating of public auras creates higher quality experiences for all
students.
8. Take particular advantage of special occasions to create aura that will
have high emotional impact. Learning tied to fun events will aid in
retention as well as helping students to engage with school and national
cultural practices.
9. Setting up mentorships between ELL students proficient in Aurasma and
new users can be beneficial to both parties. The new user has a teacher
who has been in their situation before, and the proficient user can
cement their understandings by reviewing and providing guidance

Introducing Aurasma to ELL Students

Device Setup
Initial device setup should consist of installing the Aurasma app, creating the
necessary student and school accounts, uploading a starter set of trigger
images to work with, selecting on the device the necessary channels to follow,
and setting the device to the viewer mode before distributing them to
students.
Accounts
Students should be working primarily through their own individual accounts.
School accounts should be used for general-purpose auras and to showcase
exceptional student work.

Channels
Students should be encouraged to follow as many of their peers channels as
possible as well as the school channel. This helps to build a sense of
community and aids in providing feedback and celebrating good work.

Public vs. Private Auras

Private auras should be used for testing and works in progress. They may also
be used for personal auras/reminders that they student does not wish to share
and for content that is supplemented with their native language.
Public auras show be used to showcase student work and auras which have
broad use within the school or which may be helpful to a group of students.
Students should have such auras approved by their teacher prior to posting to
ensure both quality and appropriateness.

The Aurasma ELL student guide

An ELL student guide is available as a supplement to teacher instruction in
introducing Aurasma to students. This guide focuses mostly on scan-able
images with attached overlays and static images. Please ensure that all
student devices are properly configured prior to distributing hardware and
the guides. For best results, print the guide out, rather than viewing it on a
computer or projector, using high quality printing and matte paper.

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