This study explores the educational needs of university students in using Augmented Reality (AR) applications within museum learning environments. As AR technologies become increasingly integrated into educational and cultural spaces, their potential to create immersive, interactive, and lasting learning experiences has gained significant attention. However, despite their promise, many students lack the necessary training and digital literacy to effectively implement AR tools in educational contexts.
Conducted during the 2023–2024 spring semester at Near East University, this quantitative study employed a screening model to assess the needs of 99 university students enrolled in museum education and digital literacy courses. Data were collected using a 5-point Likert-type educational needs survey and analyzed based on mean score distributions. The results reveal that students require more structured instruction and hands-on training in AR applications such as Smartify, Museum Alive, Layar, Wonderscope, ARLOOPA, ARKit, Vuforia Engine, and ARCore.
The findings emphasize the importance of integrating AR-focused training into educational programs, particularly within museum studies and digital learning curricula. Future research directions include encouraging students to design and develop their own AR-based museum applications after receiving targeted training, thereby bridging the gap between digital innovation and educational practice.
See full paper here: http://dx.doi.org/10.70594/brain/15.4/19
