Learning on mobile augmented reality trails of integrity and ethics

Area of Science:

• Educational Technology
• Higher Education Pedagogy
• Academic Integrity and Ethics

Background:

• University education must prioritize academic integrity and ethics (AIE) for student development and professional success.
• Traditional AIE education often struggles to engage students with abstract concepts.
• There is a need for innovative pedagogical approaches to make AIE learning more relevant and impactful.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effectiveness of an augmented reality (AR) mobile application in enhancing student learning of AIE.
• To assess student engagement and changes in AIE perspectives through immersive, context-aware learning experiences.
• To develop and evaluate discipline-specific AIE scenarios using AR technology.

Main Methods:

• Development of 'Trails of Integrity and Ethics' (TIEs) using an AR interface on mobile devices.
• Implementation of TIEs on university campuses, presenting students with real-world ethical dilemmas.
• Collection and analysis of data from student clickstreams, reflective texts, and user experience surveys.

Main Results:

• Over 1000 students participated in the TIEs over two years.
• Initial findings indicate increased student activity and engagement in learning AIE concepts.
• Evidence suggests a positive shift in student perspectives on AIE, connecting dilemmas to their daily lives.

Conclusions:

• Mobile AR trails show promise in making AIE education more active and engaging for university students.
• The TIEs approach facilitates a deeper understanding and application of AIE principles by linking them to practical scenarios.
• This project provides a foundation for further research and development of AR-based ethical education in higher learning institutions.