NEWTON-AR
Teaching Complex Topics
We’ve found integrating STEM standards in early elementary can present unique challenges for educators. Children, pre-K through second grade, are still learning the basics, which makes it challenging to teach them complex topics. Therefore, projects that students can physically manipulate are powerful tools for learning at this level.
Rube Goldberg-style challenges
We have built NEWTON-AR, to address these challenges in the classroom. NEWTON-AR combines Engineering, Making, Computer Science, STEM learning, and Augmented Reality. And it does this through game-based Rube Goldberg-style challenges. NEWTON helps teachers engage students in problem-solving while encouraging collaboration and creativity.
Clean & simple interface
With NEWTON-AR our goal is to create a clean and simple interface that utilizes the power of AR. A set of contraption-cards interact with an iPad app. You can create and manipulate pieces like paddles, switches, and levers by simply moving the cards.
Make learning yours
Students can share a physical workspace and still customize their own virtual components and write their own programs. The gameplay component facilitates individual exploration, group learning, and the ability to share what was learned using STEM concepts and language.
Take Newton-AR to the next level with our maker kits!
Students’ Learning Journey
LAYOUT
Students layout the playing cards to represent the flow the contraption-design.
2. DESIGN
Students use AR to link the parts together to solve puzzle-challenges in novel ways.
3. SIMULATE
Students simulate their contraption’s performance. Allows to fail forward and iterate quickly while having fun.
4. PROTOTYPE
Students build parts that can be physically prototyped. These physical parts can then interact with the virtual contraption.
5. RECORD
Students create narrated demo-walkthrough videos where they explain their creation, problems, and possible solutions.
“Newton- AR is kind of like this mixture of a design sandbox game and a tabletop game. Because of the Next Gen Science Standards, students really need such tools at all levels.”
— Chris Whitmer