10 Best AR Apps for Classrooms Using Apple’s New ARKit

• By Ashley Richmond
• February 7, 2024February 7, 2024
• Apps, AR/VR

Augmented Reality (AR) is not just a futuristic concept anymore; it’s a present-day educational revolution. With the advent of Apple’s ARKit, classrooms are undergoing a transformative experience, opening up new and interactive ways of learning. For educators looking to leverage this technology, the question is: What are the best AR apps to use?

In this article, you will learn:

• The transformative impact of AR technology on education.
• Insights into 10 top AR apps designed for classrooms using Apple’s ARKit.
• Strategies for effectively integrating these apps into your teaching methods.

As we delve into the world of AR in education, powered by Apple’s innovative ARKit, prepare to discover a blend of fun and learning that could redefine educational experiences.

Amazing Market Statistics of AR apps in Education

• The global augmented reality (AR) in education market is forecasted to grow from USD 3.1 billion in 2023 to USD 7.15 billion by 2028, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.2%​​. This growth is underpinned by the increasing integration of AR into educational applications to enhance learning experiences.
• North America and Asia-Pacific are leading in the adoption of AR in education, with significant contributions from countries like the United States, China, and India. The U.S. market alone is projected to reach US$ 19.71 billion by 2033, driven by technological advancements, a focus on STEM education, and supportive policies​​.
• Studies have shown that AR can significantly increase engagement and retention levels among students. For example, AR in shopping experiences, which can be analogous to educational applications, has seen 100 million consumers using AR for shopping, with a 45% higher engagement rate than traditional methods like TV​​.
• Despite the potential, there are challenges hindering the widespread integration of AR in education, including ineffective classroom integration due to the novelty of the technology, the physical setup of classrooms, and the lack of skills among educators to seamlessly incorporate AR into the curriculum​​.
• The market is witnessing a surge in educational gaming and AR game-based learning as a trend, leveraging the interactive and immersive capabilities of AR to enhance educational outcomes and make learning more engaging for students​​.

The Rise of AR in Education

Augmented Reality (AR) has rapidly transformed from a sci-fi concept into a dynamic educational tool. This immersive technology blends digital information with the physical environment, creating interactive experiences that enhance learning and engagement. The rise of AR in education marks a significant shift in how information is delivered and consumed in classrooms. No longer confined to the pages of textbooks, educational content now leaps into the real world, offering students a more engaging and interactive way to learn.

The advent of Apple’s ARKit has been a game-changer in this evolution. This powerful framework allows developers to create more sophisticated and realistic AR experiences, tailor-made for educational purposes. With its advanced features, ARKit has enabled a plethora of educational apps, each designed to bring subjects to life in ways previously unimaginable. From visualizing complex scientific concepts to exploring historical events in three dimensions, ARKit is helping educators unlock new potentials in teaching and learning.

What is Apple’s ARKit?

Apple’s ARKit is like a magic tool for making apps that blend real and computer-made worlds. It’s a set of tools that app creators use to make AR apps for iPhones and iPads. These apps let you see virtual things, like animals or machines, as if they are right in front of you, mixing with the real world.

ARKit is great for making learning apps because it’s easy to use and works on devices that lots of people already have. It lets app makers create realistic 3D images that can move and change, making learning fun and interactive. Imagine looking at a dinosaur as if it’s in your classroom or seeing how a plant grows right on your desk. That’s what ARKit can do.

With ARKit, teachers can use apps to make lessons more exciting. Students can explore and interact with things that are hard to see in real life, like tiny cells or faraway planets. It’s like having a 3D movie in your classroom where you can move around and look at things from all sides.

The best list for you! Best AR Apps for iOS That You Need to Try

Top 10 AR Apps for Classrooms Using Apple’s ARKit

1. FigmentAR (Free)
2. Orb (Free)
3. Human Anatomy Atlas
4. Kouji / Storyfab
5. Chalk (Free)
6. Magicplan
7. Catchy Words (Free)
8. World Brush (Free)
9. Qlone (Freemium)
10. JigSpace

Lets discus about each in detail!

1) FigmentAR (Free): Best AR Apps for Classrooms

FigmentAR transforms everyday surroundings into an interactive playground. It’s an app that lets students and teachers create virtual objects and animations that appear to exist in the real world when viewed through an iPad or iPhone. It’s like turning the classroom into a stage for digital storytelling and exploration.

Key Features of FigmentAR

• 3D Object Placement: Place virtual objects like animals, plants, or historical artifacts around the classroom.
• Animation Tools: Bring these objects to life with simple animations, making lessons more engaging.
• Interactive Experiences: Create interactive scenarios where students can walk around, view, and interact with these virtual elements.

Educational Benefits of FigmentAR

• Enhanced Engagement: By blending digital elements with the real world, FigmentAR captures students’ attention in an entirely new way.
• Creative Learning: It encourages creativity and imagination, allowing students to visualize abstract concepts.
• Interactive Storytelling: Perfect for subjects like history or literature, where students can create and interact with stories and historical events.

Utilizing ARKit’s Capabilities of FigmentAR

FigmentAR leverages ARKit’s advanced 3D tracking and scene recognition to place and maintain digital objects in a real environment. This means that when a student places a virtual dinosaur in the classroom, it stays in place, size-adjusted to the room, offering a realistic and immersive learning experience. The ARKit’s smooth performance ensures that these elements are integrated seamlessly, making learning not just informative but also genuinely captivating.

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2) Orb (Free): Top AR Apps for Classrooms

Orb is an innovative AR app that turns the classroom into an interactive 3D modeling studio. It’s designed to make learning about various subjects more engaging by allowing students to create and manipulate virtual objects in real-world settings.

Features of Orb

• 3D Object Creation: Students can craft a wide range of 3D objects, from simple geometric shapes to more complex structures, right in their classroom environment.
• Real-Time Interaction: Using the iPad or iPhone’s camera, Orb allows students to place and interact with their 3D creations as if they were real objects in the room.
• Customization Tools: The app provides various tools to customize the color, texture, and size of the 3D models, enhancing the creative experience.

Educational Benefits of Orb

• Enhanced Spatial Understanding: Orb helps students develop a better grasp of spatial relationships and geometry by interacting with 3D models in a real-world context.
• Creativity and Design Skills: By building models from scratch, students foster creativity and design skills, which are essential in many STEM fields.
• Engaging Learning Experience: The interactive nature of Orb makes learning more engaging and memorable, especially for visual and kinesthetic learners.

Utilizing ARKit’s Capabilities of Orb

Orb leverages ARKit’s advanced tracking and scene understanding to seamlessly integrate virtual objects with the real world. The app uses ARKit’s ability to detect surfaces and ambient light, ensuring that the 3D models look natural and realistically interact with their surroundings. This use of ARKit’s technology not only makes the learning experience more immersive but also demonstrates the practical application of AR in education.

3) Human Anatomy Atlas: AR Apps for Classrooms

Human Anatomy Atlas is an immersive app that turns learning about the human body into a 3D experience. It’s like having a virtual human body in the classroom that students can explore. The app displays detailed models of body systems, including the skeletal, muscular, circulatory, and nervous systems. It’s like having a digital, interactive mannequin that shows not just the outside of the human body but also what’s inside.

Features of Human Anatomy Atlas

• Interactive 3D Models: Students can rotate, zoom in, and explore different body parts in great detail.
• Customizable Views: Teachers and students can tailor the view to focus on specific systems or body parts, ideal for targeted lessons.
• Detailed Information: Each part of the body comes with helpful information, making it easy to learn names, functions, and more.
• Quizzes: Interactive quizzes help students test their knowledge and reinforce learning.

Educational Benefits of Human Anatomy Atlas

• Enhanced Understanding: Seeing the body in 3D helps students grasp complex anatomical concepts easier than flat images in textbooks.
• Engaging Learning: The interactive nature of the app keeps students interested and engaged, which can improve memory and understanding.
• Practical Application: It’s particularly beneficial for students considering careers in health and medicine, providing a practical insight into human anatomy.

Utilization of ARKit’s Capabilities of Human Anatomy Atlas

Human Anatomy Atlas leverages Apple’s ARKit to project realistic 3D models into the real-world environment of the classroom. This means students can walk around a life-sized heart or skull, see it from different angles, and understand its structure in a way that feels real. The ARKit’s advanced tracking and scene understanding allow these models to stay anchored in space, making the learning experience intuitive and interactive.

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4) Kouji / Storyfab

Kouji / Storyfab is an imaginative AR app that brings storytelling to life in classrooms. This app allows students and teachers to create interactive stories using a mix of virtual characters and real-world environments. Here’s a closer look:

Features of Kouji / Storyfab

• Create Interactive Stories: Users can design their own stories by placing animated characters in real-world settings. The app offers a variety of characters, each with unique animations and expressions.
• Customization: It allows for customizing scenes and characters, giving users the freedom to craft truly personalized stories.
• Voice Recording: Users can record their own voices to add dialogue to the characters, making the story more engaging and personal.
• Easy-to-Use Interface: The app is designed with a user-friendly interface, making it accessible for students of all ages.

Educational Benefits of Kouji / Storyfab

• Enhances Creativity: By allowing students to create their own stories, Kouji / Storyfab fosters creativity and imagination.
• Improves Language Skills: As students script and record dialogues, they practice language arts skills like writing, storytelling, and public speaking.
• Engages Multiple Learning Styles: This app caters to visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners by combining elements of all these learning styles.
• Promotes Collaboration: Teachers can encourage students to work in groups to create stories, which enhances teamwork and collaborative skills.

Utilizing ARKit’s Capabilities of Kouji / Storyfab

• Realistic Integration: Utilizes ARKit to blend animated characters seamlessly into the real environment, making the storytelling experience more immersive.
• Spatial Recognition: Thanks to ARKit’s advanced spatial recognition, characters can interact with real-world objects and spaces, adding depth to the story.
• Responsive Experience: The app leverages ARKit’s responsive environment capabilities, allowing characters to move and react in real-time as the user navigates through the story.

Kouji / Storyfab stands out as a unique tool in educational AR, transforming the art of storytelling into an interactive, immersive experience. By harnessing the power of Apple’s ARKit, it opens up new, exciting avenues for creative learning in the classroom.

5) Chalk

Chalk is an amazing app that lets you share what you see through your phone or tablet and draw on it as if you’re using magic chalk. It’s perfect for when you’re trying to help a friend with homework or when a teacher wants to show you exactly what to do, all without being in the same room.

Features of Chalk

• Live Sharing: You can share what you’re looking at with someone else. For example, if you’re stuck on a math problem, you can show it to your friend or teacher live.
• Draw in Real-Time: While you’re sharing what you see, both you and the person helping you can draw on the screen. It’s like you’re both drawing with chalk on the same blackboard.
• Easy to Use: It’s super simple. Just point your camera at something, and you can start drawing on it or sharing it right away.
• Talk and Draw: You can talk to each other while you’re drawing, so it’s easy to explain things or ask questions.

Educational Benefits of Chalk

• Helps With Homework: Chalk is great for getting help with homework. You can show exactly where you’re having trouble, and your friend or teacher can show you how to solve it.
• Makes Learning Interactive: Instead of just listening or reading, you can actually see and interact with what you’re learning about. It makes learning a lot more fun and effective.
• Brings People Together: Even if you’re far apart, Chalk brings you together to work on something. It’s like being in the same classroom, even if you’re at home.
• Encourages Problem Solving: When you can share and draw on problems together, it’s easier to think of new ideas and solutions.

Using ARKit’s Magic of Chalk

• Realistic Drawing: With ARKit, when you draw on something, it looks like the drawing is really there on the object or paper. It’s super cool and makes it clear what you’re talking about.
• Works With Your World: The app understands your room, so you can move around, and your drawings stay where they’re supposed to be. It makes sharing and solving problems together really smooth.
• Easy for Everyone: Thanks to ARKit, Chalk is really easy for anyone to use. You don’t need to be good at technology to start drawing and sharing.

Chalk is like having a magic blackboard that connects you with friends or teachers, making learning and solving problems together easy and fun, no matter where you are. Whether you need help with homework or want to explain something cool you’ve learned, Chalk is a great tool to have.

6) Magicplan: AR Apps for Classrooms

Magicplan is an innovative AR app designed to transform the way students learn about geometry, spatial awareness, and architectural design. Utilizing Apple’s ARKit, it offers a hands-on approach to exploring and understanding spaces and structures through augmented reality.

Features of Magicplan

• Floor Plan Creation: Students can use their device’s camera to scan a room and automatically generate a detailed floor plan.
• 3D Models: The app allows for the creation of 3D models of rooms and buildings, giving a realistic view of spaces.
• Measurements: Magicplan can measure distances and dimensions within the AR environment, providing accurate data for mathematical calculations.
• Project Export: Designs and plans can be exported in various formats, making it easy to share projects or continue working on them in other software.

Educational Benefits of Magicplan

• Enhances Understanding of Geometry: By creating floor plans and 3D models, students apply geometric concepts in real-world scenarios.
• Develops Spatial Awareness: Working with Magicplan helps students understand spatial relationships and the dimensions of different structures.
• Encourages Problem Solving: The app poses real architectural and design challenges, encouraging students to think critically and solve problems.
• Integrates STEM Learning: Magicplan is a practical tool for integrating STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) into the curriculum, making these subjects more accessible and engaging.

Utilizing ARKit’s Capabilities of Magicplan

• Accurate Environment Mapping: Magicplan takes full advantage of ARKit’s environment mapping capabilities to create precise and realistic floor plans and models.
• Real-time Measurements: Leveraging ARKit’s advanced sensors, the app provides real-time measurements of spaces, enhancing learning with immediate feedback.
• Interactive Learning Experience: With ARKit, Magicplan creates an interactive learning environment where students can manipulate and explore 3D spaces as if they were physically present.

Magicplan leverages the power of AR to offer an immersive, educational experience that goes beyond traditional learning methods. By combining the practical application of math and design principles with the innovative use of technology, it stands as a testament to the potential of AR in education.

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7) World Brush

World Brush is an AR app that allows users to paint and draw in 3D space using augmented reality. This app turns the environment around you into a canvas for creativity, offering a new dimension to art projects and classroom activities.

Features of World Brush

• 3D Drawing in Real Space: Students can paint and draw in the air around them, with their artwork remaining fixed in place within the real world.
• Color and Brush Options: Offers a wide range of colors and brush styles, enabling users to experiment with different artistic techniques.
• Gallery of Public Art: Users can view and interact with art created by others in their vicinity, fostering a sense of community and inspiration.
• Privacy Controls: Art can be made private or public, giving users control over who can see their creations.

Educational Benefits of World Brush

• Fosters Creativity and Imagination: By allowing students to draw in 3D space, World Brush encourages creative thinking and imaginative expression.
• Enhances Spatial Awareness: Drawing in augmented reality helps develop spatial awareness and understanding of dimensions.
• Promotes Collaborative Learning: Teachers can organize group projects where students contribute to a collective AR art piece, enhancing teamwork skills.
• Integrates Art and Technology: This app seamlessly blends artistic expression with technology, engaging students who might be more interested in one area than the other.

Utilizing ARKit’s Capabilities of World Brush

• Precise Tracking and Placement: World Brush uses ARKit’s advanced tracking capabilities to accurately place and maintain art in the real world, ensuring that creations stay anchored in their intended locations.
• Realistic Interaction: The app leverages ARKit’s environment sensing to make sure that drawings can interact with real-world surfaces and objects, adding depth to the artistic process.
• Enhanced Visual Experience: With ARKit, World Brush provides a smooth and immersive drawing experience, with realistic colors and textures that blend seamlessly with the environment.

World Brush unlocks a unique platform for artistic expression in the classroom, offering students an innovative way to explore art and design. By harnessing the capabilities of Apple’s ARKit, it not only enriches the educational experience but also bridges the gap between traditional art and digital creativity.

8) Catchy Words

Catchy Words is a cool AR app that turns learning words into a fun game. Imagine catching letters floating around you to spell words correctly. It’s like a treasure hunt for letters, but you learn new words as you play.

Features of Catchy Words

• Catch Letters with Your Device: You move your phone or tablet around to find and catch letters in the air.
• Spell Words: Once you catch the letters, you try to spell words correctly. It’s a great way to practice spelling.
• Different Levels: There are levels from easy to hard, so you can keep getting better as you play more.
• Fun for All Ages: Whether you’re just learning to read or want to get better at spelling, this game is fun for everyone.

Educational Benefits of Catchy Words

• Makes Learning Fun: Catchy Words makes spelling and learning new words exciting. You won’t even realize you’re learning because you’re having so much fun.
• Helps with Spelling and Vocabulary: As you play, you get better at spelling words correctly and learn new words you didn’t know before.
• Gets You Moving: Unlike other games where you sit still, Catchy Words has you moving around, which can make learning more active and enjoyable.
• Improves Focus: Looking for letters and figuring out words helps improve your focus and attention to detail.

Using ARKit’s Magic of Catchy Words

• Brings Letters into Your World: The app uses ARKit to make it look like letters are floating around in your room. It feels like you’re on a real-life letter hunt.
• Works in Your Space: ARKit helps the app understand your room, so letters can hide behind furniture or float above the floor, making the game more exciting.
• Smooth and Easy: With ARKit, Catchy Words runs smoothly, making it easy for you to catch letters and spell words without any glitches.

Catchy Words is a fantastic way to learn and have fun at the same time. It uses the magic of AR to bring letters and words into your world in a way that’s engaging and interactive. Whether you’re a kid or just a kid at heart, this app is a great way to practice spelling and expand your vocabulary.

9) Qlone

Qlone is an app that turns your phone or tablet into a 3D scanner. It’s like having a magic camera that can copy objects from the real world and turn them into 3D models on your screen. You can scan almost anything, then see it on your device as if it’s right there in front of you, but in a digital form.

Features of Qlone

• Easy 3D Scanning: You can scan objects by just moving your device around them. It’s simple and fun to see things turn into 3D models.
• Edit and Share: Once you have your 3D model, you can change how it looks, make it bigger or smaller, and even share it with friends or on social media.
• AR View: You can place your 3D models back into the real world using your screen. It’s like the object is right there again, but now you can change it and play with it in cool ways.
• Print in 3D: If you have access to a 3D printer, you can even print out your models to have a real copy in your hands.

Educational Benefits of Qlone

• Learn About 3D Modeling: Qlone is a fun way to learn how 3D modeling works, which is important for lots of jobs in design, art, and engineering.
• Creative Thinking: It helps you think creatively as you decide how to turn real objects into digital ones and what changes to make.
• Science and Tech Skills: You get to learn about cool technology, like 3D scanning and printing, which are big parts of science and tech today.
• Sharing and Collaboration: You can work with friends on projects, scanning different things and putting them together in new ways.

Using ARKit’s Magic of Qlone

• Realistic Models: ARKit helps Qlone make very detailed and realistic 3D models that look just like the real thing.
• Understands Your Space: The app knows where things are in your room, so it can make better 3D models and put them back into the world in a way that looks real.
• Smooth and Fun: With ARKit, using Qlone feels smooth and fun, without any tricky parts, so you can focus on being creative and learning new things.

Qlone is like a digital magic trick for your classroom or home, making it easy and fun to learn about 3D modeling and technology. Whether you’re making art, learning about science, or just playing around, Qlone brings a whole new world of creativity to your fingertips.

10) JigSpace

JigSpace is like having a 3D library where you can learn about how things work by seeing them in layers, right in front of you. Imagine taking apart a machine to see all its parts or diving inside a volcano to see what’s inside—all with just your tablet or phone.

Features of JigSpace

• 3D Learning Spaces: You can explore different “Jigs” or lessons, each one about something cool, like space, machines, or animals.
• Interactive Models: You can touch and move the 3D models around, zoom in to see details, or spin them to see all sides.
• Step-by-Step Explanations: Each Jig comes with easy steps that teach you about the thing you’re exploring, like how a piano makes music or how a shark swims.
• Create Your Own Jigs: You can even make your own 3D lessons to share what you know with others or to help you remember what you learn.

Educational Benefits of JigSpace

• Makes Learning Fun: JigSpace turns learning into an adventure. You get to explore and discover, making learning feel like a game.
• Helps You Understand Better: By seeing things in 3D, you can understand how things work a lot better. It’s like seeing the real thing right in front of you.
• Encourages Curiosity: This app makes you want to learn more. Every Jig is a chance to discover something new and interesting.
• Great for School Projects: You can use JigSpace for projects or presentations to show what you’ve learned in a cool, new way.

Using ARKit’s Magic of JigSpace

• Brings Lessons to Life: ARKit helps JigSpace make its 3D lessons look real, like they’re happening right on your desk or table.
• Easy to Use: Thanks to ARKit, moving around and exploring the 3D models is easy and smooth, so you can focus on learning and having fun.
• Works Everywhere: You can use JigSpace anywhere, in the classroom or at home, making it a portable learning tool.

JigSpace is an awesome way to learn about almost anything. It’s like a magic window into the world around you, making it easier to understand and more fun to explore. Whether you’re curious about how things work or looking for a cool way to learn new facts, JigSpace has something for everyone.

Comparison of Top AR Apps Using Apple’s ARKit

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How to Integrating AR Apps into the Classroom?

Using AR apps in class is like bringing a new kind of book that jumps to life. Here’s how you can make these cool apps a part of your lessons:

1. Start with a Plan: Think about what you want to teach and pick an app that helps show that. Like using Human Anatomy Atlas to learn about the body.
2. Show and Tell: First, show your students how the app works. You might open World Brush and paint something floating in the air. This gets everyone excited and ready to try.
3. Small Steps: Begin with easy activities. Maybe use Catchy Words for a fun spelling game. This helps everyone learn how to use the app without getting too tricky.
4. Ask Questions: After playing with the apps, ask your students what they think. Did they like learning this way? What did they find out? This helps them think more about what they learned.
5. Mix It Up: Use these apps to add something special to your usual lessons. You can mix books, talking, and AR games to make learning fun in many ways.

Remember, the goal is to make learning fun and more real. AR apps can help students see and touch what they’re learning about, making it easier to understand and remember.

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Final Words

We talked about some awesome AR apps that can make learning really fun and feel real. Apps like FigmentAR, Orb, and Human Anatomy Atlas can help you see and understand things in a whole new way.

• AR makes learning fun and interactive.
• These apps help us see things we’re learning about as if they’re right in front of us.
• Using AR in class can make lessons more interesting and help everyone learn better.