Academic Opinions on the Use of Augmented Reality in Basic Design Education

Abstract

With the advancement of technology, educational materials have also undergone a period of development and change. This situation has been inevitable as a result of both Generation Z students' familiarity with technology and the change in their thought structures. In this study, research was conducted on the integration of the basic design education course, which has been carried out with traditional methods since the Bauhaus School period, with innovative technology. In this context, the opinions of expert academics on the integration of augmented reality (AR) technology into basic design education were analyzed. The effects of the inclusion of AR technology in learning processes on students' design skills and development processes are discussed. In the study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 academics who are experts in their fields using in-depth interview technique from qualitative research methods. It was concluded that academics agreed that AR technology should be integrated with traditional teaching methods. In addition, the advantages and disadvantages of integration and possible concerns that may affect the expected learning outcomes when using traditional methods due to the use of AR technology are emphasized. In line with the findings obtained from the interviews, suggestions on how basic design courses can be transformed into a more interactive and efficient way are given.