Significant Historical Events using Capzles and Augmented Reality

-by Jody Pereverzoff and Dan McWilliam, Grade 7 Humanities

In the final inquiry for the year, students examined significant themes in Canadian history by studying specific events, people, and places that have had an impact on the development of Canada. Students, using one of the major themes, created a monument or structure using Augmented Reality in our school field that showcased their understanding of the most significant event and its impact on Canadian history and our world today.

In Humanities earlier this year, students studied the most significant events in Canadian history pre-Confederation. To develop a deep understanding of Canadian history, we wanted students to look at themes in history rather than just specific events in time.

Students found and researched 10 events, people or periods that fell into their theme of Canadian history. They then found an iconic image or other media to represent or share the event along with a short description. These events were presented in Capzles, a social networking timeline generator, the events were then placed on a timeline and the program assisted the audience in navigating through the events chronologically. Students had the Capzles application on their iPads, but the program can also be accessed through any computer.

To view the Capzule assignment page with rubric, click here.

For the Memorializing the Growth of our Nation assignment, click here.

Once the Capzles were created and shared with the class, students designed and created a monument to memorialize their theme in Canadian history. To create the monuments, we invited a local artist to work with the students on drawing with 1, 2 and 3 point perspectives. This aided in their planning and visualizing their monument. Once they arrived at their plan, they produced the monument in a variety of mediums, including Augmented Reality.

Some students chose to create their monuments using Google Sketchup as a 3D design. This design was then geofixed using the info pane in Google Sketchup and sent to their iPads as a .kmz 3D model. Using the application SightSpace for the iPad, they opened the 3D model file and it appeared in the location where they had geofixed it. Monuments were geofixed in the playground and school field and using the iPad to navigate, students had the opportunity to walk around and between the monuments as if it were a tangible statue.

Students were also required to create an artist statement explaining the intent behind their design. They were to make connections between their symbols and events, and discuss how their theme has had an impact on the development of Canada. These were completed using the app, ShowMe.

To view student exemplar #1 click here.

To view student exemplar #2 click here.

To view student exemplar #3 click here.