Students as Creators of Augmented Reality in Primary Education: A Pilot Study

Abstract

The present pilot study investigates the use of Augmented Reality (AR) in Primary Education, focusing on students’ participation as active creators of digital educational content through the Zapworks platform. The study was conducted among students aged 10–12, attending a public experimental primary school in an urban area of Greece. In contrast to previous research approaches that primarily conceptualize students as users of ready-made AR applications, the present study adopts the Learning By Design Theory, placing learners as designers and creators of their own educational artifacts. The study aims to familiarize students with the Zapworks platform and to explore their perceptions regarding their overall experience, collaborative group work, personal engagement, learning motivation, and knowledge acquisition. The instructional intervention was based on a representative module from the 6th Grade Geography textbook (“The shape and movements of the Earth”). A qualitative exploratory research design was employed, with data collected through semi-structured interviews. The findings highlight the potential of AR as a learning medium that supports students’ active, creative, and reflective participation in the educational process. The study provides useful insights for pedagogical design and the integration of AR in Primary Education.