Connections of Earth and Sky with Augmented Reality (CEASAR): Transforming Collaborative Learning Practices with Shared and Embedded Digital Models

增强现实（AR）技术正变得越来越容易获得，并且有希望开发可由多个用户共享和处理的交互式虚拟内容。“地球和天空与增强现实的联系”（CEASAR）项目将设计和原型化沉浸式增强现实（AR）学习场景，支持围绕行星天文学模型的太阳能工程设计挑战的协作交互。该项目旨在改变AR用于支持科学系统虚拟模型的小组协作的方式。该项目设想了未来的工作场所场景，其中团队的任务是设计依赖于科学模型的工程问题的解决方案。这项工作的发现将为计算机支持的协作学习的设计实践提供信息，以及设计有效的沉浸式AR工作和学习平台的原则。CEASAR旨在展示这些扩展AR功能在小组协作学习中的有效性，可以作为医学、工程、科学实验室、工业设施和其他环境中工作和学习场景的起点。虽然有证据表明，与传统的教学方法相比，AR可以产生积极的学习效果，但直到最近，这项技术才提供了与共享虚拟对象的协作参与。该项目将研究沉浸式增强现实背景下的协作学习实践。具体地说，该项目将研究1)协调的视觉模型，2)具体化的交互，以及3)基于合作者角色的个性化提示和可视化的角色。项目团队将直接与当地两所社区学院的教师合作，设计协作学习场景，并招募学生参与基于设计的研究。该项目将应用现有的学习分析技术来检测和评估CEASAR环境中的协作学习互动，探索使活动适合“全班”环境的方法，并创建一套支持未来AR工作场所协作的设计指南。确定通过AR交互有效指导学习者模型参与和设计话语的实践和原则，将有助于研究人机交互、计算机支持的协作学习和技术增强的STEM教育。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Augmented reality (AR) technologies are becoming increasingly accessible and there are promising opportunities to develop interactive virtual content that can be shared and worked on by multiple users. The Connections of Earth and Sky to Augmented Reality (CEASAR) project will design and prototype immersive Augmented Reality (AR) learning scenarios that support collaborative interaction around solar engineering design challenges using models of planetary astronomy. This project aims to transform the way that AR is used to support small group collaboration with virtual models of scientific systems. The project envisions future workplace scenarios where teams are tasked with designing solutions to engineering problems that rely upon scientific models. Findings from this work will inform the practice of designing for computer-supported collaborative learning generally, as well as principles for designing effective immersive AR work and learning platforms. CEASAR aims to demonstrate efficacy of these extended AR capabilities for small group collaborative learning that can serve as a launching point for work and learning scenarios in medicine, engineering, science laboratories, industrial facilities, and other contexts. While there is evidence that AR can generate positive learning outcomes in comparison to traditional instructional methods, only recently has the technology offered collaborative engagement with shared virtual objects. The project will investigate collaborative learning practices in the context of immersive augmented reality. Specifically, the project will investigate the role of 1) coordinated visual models, 2) embodied interaction, and 3) personalized prompts and visualizations based on a collaborator's role. The project team will work directly with instructors from two local community colleges to design the collaborative learning scenarios and to recruit students for participation in design-based research studies. The project will apply available learning analytics techniques to detect and assess collaborative learning interactions within the CEASAR environment, explore ways of making the activities suitable for "whole-class" contexts, and create a set of design guidelines for supporting future AR workplace collaboration. Identifying practices and principles for effectively guiding learners' model engagement and design discourse through AR interactions will contribute to the research on human-computer interaction, computer-supported collaborative learning, and technology-enhanced STEM education.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.