Additional content offerings and learning
functionalities drive student engagement through innovative AR
technology
NEW
YORK, June 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- McGraw Hill
and Verizon today announced several exciting updates to their
augmented reality (AR) mobile app: McGraw Hill AR. The free,
award-winning app, originally launched in June of 2022, is getting
updated with expanded subject offerings as well as a new
collaborative feature to foster group learning, both in and out of
the physical classroom setting. The McGraw Hill AR app offers
short, three-to-five-minute interactive activities aimed at helping
engage students in new and impactful ways. Corresponding
professionally developed lesson plans are exclusively available to
K-12 educators nationwide through Verizon Innovative Learning HQ: a
next-gen online education portal that provides free access to
immersive extended reality (XR) educational experiences for K-12
students.
"Since the app's launch last summer, it's been amazing to see
how it has fostered excitement and engagement in both students and
teachers," said Shawn Smith, Chief
Innovation Officer for McGraw Hill's School group. "As more
educators and learners embrace AR and its benefits, we will
continue enhancing the app's offerings to improve the collaborative
functions of the activities and make it available to more people
than ever before."
These app updates include new disciplines and functionality.
Social studies activities, which also cover ELA standards, are
available now. The app will expand further this fall to include new
science-related course offerings and math activities that build on
the app's original library of 10 math lessons.
Additional updates coming to the McGraw Hill AR app this year
include a new multi-language feature that will offer Spanish
versions of the original 10 math lessons. Also coming are web
versions of the original 10 lessons, enabling even more students to
access the activities via Chromebooks and other laptops. A new
group functionality for select lessons will enable collaborative
learning for students in the classroom or learning remotely.
Lastly, a spatial mapping activity will be released later this year
offering an even more immersive AR experience for students and
educators. Most activities are aimed at grades 6-12, with some
appropriate for upper elementary grades as well.
The latest app updates will be unveiled in the McGraw Hill booth
between June 25-28 at the ISTE Live
conference hosted by the International Society for Technology in
Education in Philadelphia, PA.
"At Verizon, we are committed to providing equitable access to
technology and the tools required to develop digital skills," said
Alex Servello, Director of Corporate
Social Responsibility for Verizon. "With McGraw Hill AR's device
agnostic and multi-language activities in diverse subject areas,
even more educators and students will be able to leverage immersive
tech in the classroom. We are thrilled to continue partnering with
McGraw Hill to offer free, high-quality learning experiences
through Verizon Innovative Learning HQ."
AR App Features Drive Collaboration Among Students
With 3-D capabilities and gamification, the AR app overcomes
common challenges educators typically face with their students and
promotes active learning by tying concepts to real-world elements.
The self-driven and intuitive nature of the app encourages student
agency and allows them to be more independent in their learning.
The lessons are dynamic, standards-aligned, and high quality to
promote deep conceptual understanding.
"The students found the app extremely easy to use. They were
appropriately challenged by some of the exercises, but they weren't
discouraged at all, in fact, it was actually the opposite," said
Erin Lafond, a teacher at Benjamin
Franklin Middle School in Teaneck, New
Jersey, whose students use McGraw Hill AR. "They were so
engaged that even when the bell rang, they didn't want to leave the
classroom and just wanted to figure out the current challenge."
Downloaded more than 115,000 times within its first year, the
McGraw Hill AR app is available for download today on any Apple or
Android tablet or smartphone via the App
Store and Google Play, and with accompanying lesson plans
for educators at Verizon Innovative Learning
HQ.
About McGraw Hill
McGraw Hill is a leading global
education company that partners with millions of educators,
learners and professionals around the world. Recognizing their
diverse needs, we build trusted content, flexible tools and
powerful digital platforms to help them achieve success on their
own terms. Through our commitment to equity, accessibility and
inclusion, we foster a culture of belonging that respects and
reflects the diversity of the communities, learners and educators
we serve. McGraw Hill has over 40 offices across North America, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle
East and South America, and
makes its learning solutions for PreK-12, higher education,
professionals and others available in more than 80 languages. Visit
us at mheducation.com or find us
on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or Twitter.
About Verizon Innovative Learning
Verizon Innovative
Learning, Verizon's award-winning education initiative, is
celebrating over a decade of addressing barriers to digital
inclusion for students and teachers. Since 2012, the initiative has
committed $1 billion in market value
to support digital equity, reaching over 3 million students.
Verizon Innovative Learning provides free technology, internet
access and innovative learning programs to students in
under-resourced communities - enabling students to develop the
skills, knowledge and confidence needed to build an innovative
workforce of the future. In 2021, Verizon launched Verizon
Innovative Learning HQ, a next-gen online education portal that
provides free access to immersive XR educational experiences to all
educators, including K-12 teachers, nationwide. A key initiative
under Citizen Verizon, the company's responsible business plan for
economic, environmental and social advancement, Verizon Innovative
Learning is helping to drive the company's goal to provide 10
million youths with digital skills training by 2030. Learn more
at CitizenVerizon.com.
Contact
Tyler Reed
McGraw Hill
(914) 512-4853
tyler.reed@mheducation.com
Bernadette Brijlall
Verizon
bernadette.brijlall@verizon.com
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SOURCE McGraw Hill
