THE IMPACT OF AUGMENTED REALITY ON ENGAGEMENT AND LEARNING: AN ANALYSIS OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ECOEXPLORAR PROJECT IN A PUBLIC SCHOOL

Abstract

This article presents the results of the implementation of the educational artifact ecosystem “EcoExplorAR,” based on Augmented Reality (AR), in a public high school in Cariacica, Espírito Santo, Brazil. The study investigated the impact of AR on student engagement, the understanding of socio-environmental concepts, and the development of students’ critical awareness. The research methodology, grounded in Design Science Research (DSR), adopted a mixed-methods approach to data collection, including pre- and post-intervention questionnaires, participant observation, and focus groups. The quantitative and qualitative results demonstrate a high level of student engagement, a significant increase in the understanding of key concepts, and a strengthened connection to the local territory. AR proved to be an effective tool for making invisible processes visible and for promoting more meaningful and contextualized learning. Challenges related to technological infrastructure and implementation time are discussed, along with implications for future research and pedagogical practices.