Expanding Multimodal Artistic Expression and Appreciation Methods through Integrating Augmented Reality

Increasing usage of digital technologies in daily life has affected even tech savvy students. With the prominent development of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality technologies, this study concentrates on the ongoing development of AR in art education and its potential in art education. As an educator in visual arts at a higher education institution, the author explored AR-integrated curriculum by introducing an AR creation tool (Adobe Aero) and AR education tool (Merge Cube) into visual arts education classes. The lessons were designed with multimodal delivery methods for learning effectiveness with AR, and students learned about the concepts of arts integration and AR technologies. This study examines how newly developed AR-based curriculum expanded students’ art expression and represented artwork in real and virtual spaces. In outlining the results, this study explains the practice of two-dimensional (2D) and virtual-based three-dimensional (3D) hybrid art creations in AR, and digital storytelling with AR. This study also discusses the positive impacts on students' learning engagement and satisfaction and understanding of layers and spatial structures.