AR Circuit Constructor: Combining Electricity Building Blocks and Augmented Reality for Analogy-Driven Learning and Experimentation

Abstract

We present AR Circuit Constructor (ARCC), an augmented reality application to explore and inspect electric circuits for use in educational settings. Learners use tangible electricity building blocks to construct a working electric circuit. Then, they can use a tablet device for exploring the circuit in an augmented reality visualization. Learners can switch between three distinct conceptual analogies: bicycle chain, water pipes, and waterfalls. Through experimentation with different circuit configurations, learners explore different properties of electricity to ultimately improve their understanding of it. We describe the development of our application, including a qualitative user study with a group of STEM teachers. The latter allowed us to gain insights into the qualities required for such an application before it can ultimately be deployed in a classroom setting.