Utilizing Augmented Reality in Digital Literacy Education for Primary School Students with Special Needs

Authors: L. Rakhimzhanova, D. Issabayeva, K. Aktolkyn

Type: Journal Article

Abstract:

This article examines the use of augmented reality in teaching digital literacy to primary school students with special educational needs. The study also explored the main challenges in teaching digital literacy to participants, such as the lack of personalized learning opportunities and limited accessibility. To address this issue, we used an augmented reality mobile application for continuous communication and interaction with students and teachers to improve access to educational materials. To this end, an experiment was conducted with participants using an augmented reality mobile application to evaluate its impact on learning. The participants were 20 students; 10 were in a control group, and 10 were in an experimental group. We also included 5 digital literacy teachers and five parents in the data collection. The results showed the positive effects of augmented reality on achievement. We conclude that augmented reality technologies can create unique interactive learning environments that enrich the learning process and provide immediate feedback, essential for students with special needs. The article offers examples of how augmented reality can enhance students’ learning with hearing and motor disabilities. In addition, we provide recommendations for integrating augmented reality into educational programs and suggestions for improving educational practices with augmented reality technologies.

Field: Inclusive Education