The multimedia learning theory (or dual coding theory) focuses on the power of the combination of verbal and visual media to help process information and transfer that information more easily into long-term memory. It has been seen in studies and observations that people remember information better if they receive both visual and verbal information than if they receive only one or the other form. This is thought to be due to the fact that there are two key separate channels for processing information: an auditory channel and a visual channel. Activating both of these channels at once and integrating the information received by both channels helps to solidify information in the moment, and remember this information more accurately in the future. In addition, if people are presented with material that can relate to information that they already know, it is easier for them to get that information into their long-term memory. If you can relate information to what students already know, it will be easier for students to get that information into their long-term memory.
QR codes, or “quick response” codes, are arrays of black and white squares that can link to a URL or other information through the camera of a smartphone. These can be very useful for business cards, printed advertisements, flyers, posters, or other forms of advertisement. QR codes can store much more data than barcodes, and thus serve as a useful tool for storing videos, text, images, URL links, or geo coordinates to name a few. I think it would be useful for me if I made a professional business card for teaching, and linked a QR code to my blog or an introductory video about myself.
Augmented reality is the superimposition of a virtual image on top of a real world image. It is a way in which people can interact with a hypothetical world that does not exist, a world that existed in the past, or a potential future for the world in years from now. It seems to be that it could be added into certain educational settings. One that stands out in particular is history class. As a class activity at Kitsilano High School, students looked at real-life events that occurred in the past to put themselves in the shoes of 1944 graduating students who had to make a decision on whether or not to join the Canadian Forces. They used the app ARIS and the “Dilemma 1944” section within the app. They were then guided to different locations by ARIS, and guided to watch videos, look at period photographs, and more from the American Dilemma period. Below is a video summarizing this experience. This could serve as a neat interactive hands-on learning approach in high school social studies or history classes.
References:
Jill Cooper (Teaching Education) 