Aurasma at the Art Show

I teamed up with the Art department a couple of weeks ago to learn more about Aurasma and augmented reality as they were preparing for the district art show. We had an amazing time, and I learned lots.

Here is where I need to give a big thank you to my husband, John Tahaney, for allowing me to take over his art classes to learn more about this web 2.0 tool.  He truly has the patience of a saint!

Why Aurasma?

Two years ago we debuted audio QR codes at the art show.  So anyone with the QR app on their smart device could hear students describe selected pieces of art.  Although the QR codes were successful and we could have done the same thing again, we decided it was time to learn something new and change things up.

After a discussion about augmented reality and its possibilities in one of our district library meetings, I decided to take the plunge.  I did a bit of research (OK, I Googled "augmented reality in the classroom"), and up popped one of my favorites, Kathy Schrock.  Her "Augmented Reality in the Classroom" page was amazing.  On the left side of her page under "Educational Ideas," the first 4 articles listed included Aurasma.  In addition, I follow a number of libraries on Instagram, and a couple of them have mentioned this particular app as well.  So I was sold.  After reading all that I could, I then turned to YouTube and searched Aurasma.  The best video I found was "Aurasma iPad tutorial app" by Steve Morgan.  It's over 5 minutes (which usually turns me off), but it was well worth it.

The Aurasma Project:

So the concept was to video the students explaining their art pieces. Then at the art show, anyone with the Aurasma app could open it, scan the selected art, and see/hear their videos.

Because Aurasma was relatively new for us, John Tahaney (the teacher of Art I, Pre-AP Art I, Art III, AP art, and yes, my husband) and I decided to narrow the project to just the AP Art students.

Set Up Before the Art Show:

Taking the videos, importing them into Aurasma, and then attaching them to the art work was the bulk of what we did before the art show.

• The first student I recorded was the main "guinea pig."  I went through the whole process of attaching the aura (video) to the trigger image (area of the art work that would illicit a response from the app), and viewed the finished work.  
• For a step by step process of creating an Aura for your poster, art piece, or selected work, I recommend Morgan's YouTube video, "Aurasma iPad tutorial app."
• I made the aura public which I thought would make it visible from any Aurasma app.  Come to find out, I have to create a "channel," dump all auras into that channel, and then ask all users to subscribe to that channel.  I missed that part in the video and had to Google it.  (Here is the article I read to help me...  How do people view my Auras? )

Setting up 2 generic Aurasma accounts: In order for Aurasma to work, the user has to establish an account and then make sure that he/she subscribes to the correct channel in order to see the Auras appear over the selected pieces of art.  To save time, I created two generic accounts and subscribed to the "Duncanville Art Show 2015" channel.  Then anyone using one of the generic usernames and passwords would already be set up.

Anticipating "tech" issues...  

• We trained 6 Art III students to help people who brought their own devices, and they ran the Tech Table during the Art Show. 
• We loaded the App onto a cart of iPads and checked them out to the AP students.
• We added the App to the bottom of the Art Show flyer so people could download it ahead of time.
• We printed labels with the Aurasma icon on them to identify which art pieces would work with the Aurasma App.  Then we attached those labels to the art.

        

Setting up a QR scavenger hunt: In addition to Aurasma, we did use the QR app.  We created a scavenger hunt where the participants had to scour the area for the 7 elements of design.  When they scanned all 7, they came back to the iPad station for a prize (which was candy).  The website I used for the QR codes was QR Code Generator.

During the Art Show:

At this point, it was mostly done.  We hung up the QR scavenger hunt right before the doors opened. I went around and checked out the iPads to the AP students.  Then everyone manned their stations, and the art show began.

Our Art III students ran the Tech table beautifully.  They didn't have too many customers though since all the AP students had their own iPad.  The AP students were able to show their audience the videos without having to download the app.

Things We Learned:

Start small and start early.  Although we narrowed down our pool of students, we still did not video everyone.  We forgot to schedule extra time for those students who were absent.  There were a few.

According to what I have seen and read, Aurasma does best when the student videos are 30 seconds or less...no problems there; I found that many of these art students were reluctant to stand in front of the camera anyway.  Therefore filming time took twice as long because I had to coax some of the students into doing the project.

There is no need for fancy equipment.  I used the camera on my iPad, and John used his camera on his iPhone.  The one thing I would have done differently is to shoot the video a little closer as many of the students were hard to hear.  Either that or I needed a microphone.

Make sure you have atleast 2 different Aurasma accounts.  One person to create the auras and make the channel, and one to subscribe to that channel to make sure the auras can be seen from a different device.

The Aurasma App is just not as well known as the QR App.  When we do this again, I would have additional "tech" students circulating the room with an iPad demonstrating the Aurasma app.  Then they would be able to help on the spot instead of directing people to a tech table.

Thanks for stopping by, and have an "Aurasma-tastic" day.