The Impact of Student Characteristics for Working with AR Technologies in Higher Education—Findings from an Exploratory Study with Microsoft HoloLens

Augmented reality (AR) is being used in various fields and increasingly being used in the educational sector. Although there is still little research available on the use of this technology in education, the research literature indicates its potential and effectiveness. However, information about students’ characteristics and individual learning preconditions in relation to learning with AR technologies is still scarce. In this study, 18 student teachers for science and technology for lower secondary schools of a German-speaking university of teacher education were asked about different aspects related to motivation, interest, attitude, and self-efficacy before (questionnaire) and after (interviews) participating in an AR-supported teaching unit with Microsoft HoloLens. The results show that the students have a very positive attitude towards AR technologies and were highly motivated to work with this technology. Attitudes towards AR technologies, as well as towards new technologies in general, were found to be related to motivational factors and aspects of self-efficacy in the context of the AR teaching unit. As these aspects can have an impact on learning outcomes, it is of utmost importance to understand and recognize them. Educators and researchers should therefore pay more attention to these issues in the future.+repphzhbib2022