Augmented reality in informal learning environments: A field experiment in a mathematics exhibition

• We conducted a cross-over framed field experiment to measure the effect of augmented reality (AR) on learning outcomes.
• The field experiment was situated in a mathematics exhibition.
• Participants learned significantly better from augmented exhibits than from non-augmented exhibits.
• Participants perceived AR as a valuable add-on to the exhibition and wish to see more AR applications in museums in the future.

Recent advances in mobile technologies (esp., smartphones and tablets with built-in cameras, GPS and Internet access) made augmented reality (AR) applications available for the broad public. While many researchers have examined the affordances and constraints of AR for teaching and learning, quantitative evidence for its effectiveness is still scarce. To contribute to filling this research gap, we designed and conducted a pretest–posttest crossover field experiment with 101 participants at a mathematics exhibition to measure the effect of AR on acquiring and retaining mathematical knowledge in an informal learning environment. We hypothesized that visitors acquire more knowledge from augmented exhibits than from exhibits without AR. The theoretical rationale for our hypothesis is that AR allows for the efficient and effective implementation of a subset of the design principles defined in the cognitive theory of multimedia learning. The empirical results we obtained show that museum visitors performed significantly better on knowledge acquisition and retention tests related to augmented exhibits than to non-augmented exhibits and that they perceived AR as a valuable and desirable add-on for museum exhibitions.