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18 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • November 2019 Ask the Expert a sk t h e e x p e rt With big-name tech companies like Apple, Microso and Google in- ves ng heavily in educa onal tech- nology, it's a given that tech will transform the classroom experi- ence in the coming years. But what does technology really mean for learning outcomes? Our November expert, Fredericksburg Academy, set out with two local partners to fi nd out. In partnership with the University of Mary Washington College of Educa on and Freder- icksburg-based Reclaim Hos ng, a pilot program launched this year to study the use of augmented reality (AR) apps throughout various areas of FA's K-5 curriculum. This month, FA educators talk to us about what they've learned from the program, and how technology enhances learning at the Fredericksburg independent school. Q: What is augmented reality? Augmented reality is a technology that super- imposes a computer-generated image on a user's view of the real world through a device like a tablet or smartphone, thus providing a composite view. Digital elements are o en added to a live view by using the camera on a smartphone. Some be er-known examples of augmented reality experiences include Snapchat lenses and the game Pokémon GO. Q: How did the partnership with the UMW College of Education and Reclaim Hosting come about? The three of us have synergy in a number of areas and began mee ng to explore the best collabora- on niche. A er about the third or fourth mee ng, it became obvious that AR was the way to go. "It was difficult to imagine how easily the children would master the use of the various AR apps and technologies." In partnership with the University of Mary Washington College of Educa on and Fredericksburg-based Reclaim Hos ng, a pilot program launched this year to study the use of augmented reality (AR) apps throughout various areas of FA's K-5 curriculum. INTERVIEWED BY EMILY FREEHLING Fredericksburg ACADEMY