Teachers take notice. Augmented reality is already being used in classrooms around the world.

After the success of 2016's Pokémon Go, software developers noticed how simple the technology was to grasp, especially among younger audiences. And since most students are equipped with phones, they already have the technology they need to engage.

Start using these augmented reality apps and you'll never have to confiscate a phone again. After all, instead of being distractions, they'll become engaging, interactive learning tools!

1. Experience Real History

Children are often known for letting their imagination run away with them. However, when it comes to history, it can be difficult to understand the full scope of a period's events through a couple of pages in a book.

With Experience Real History, students are given a window into the battles, strategies, and icons of our rich and colourful past.

It works through what's known as a "Reality Board". When you point your phone at this special printed mat, 3D figures emerge to act out historical scenes in stunning detail.

It's early days for the app, so only one project has been developed so far: the "Alamo edition". This focuses on portraying historically accurate battle scenes and key figures.

2. Curiscope

Ever wondered what the inside of your body might look like? Or, better yet, what the inside of a planet looks like? Well, with Curiscope, it's as easy as tapping a screen.

At the time of writing, the company has developed two applications called Multiverse Posters and Virtuali-Tee, which offer students a deeper look into the sciences of astrology and anatomy.

Multiverse Posters are just that: posters. Four are currently available, covering the Earth, Moon, Mars and the wider Solar System.

Scanning a poster with your phone generates a 3D model of the celestial body. From there, it will break in half and give the intrepid star-gazer a glimpse into what makes a planet. When you scan the Earth, for instance, you can see from its crust all the way down to its scalding-hot core.

Virtuali-Tee, which requires at least two people, has one person wear a T-shirt, printed with special receptors that look like a sort of digital ribcage.

When the other person points their phone at the T-shirt, they'll see a detailed 3D model of the inside of the body. This can help students understand how each of their organs functions in real-time.

3. Catchy Words

It can be difficult to teach spelling, especially if children are affected by conditions such as dyslexia. Catchy Words offers them a fun solution that can be played at home as well as in the classroom, without the need for any peripherals. In fact, you don't even need to be inside, so kids can learn on the go.

Here's how it works: a bubble will emerge on your phone screen tightly packed with letters. "Pop" it with a tap, and the letters will fly all over the room (if you're inside, that is). You'll need to find and catch them to spell a word.

Rather than tapping your screen and dragging the letter, you physically need to walk over and "grab" it with your phone instead. This means kids can exercise their bodies, as well as their minds. Talk about the best of both worlds.

4. Dinosaurs Among Us

Who doesn't love dinosaurs? With this app – developed by the American Museum of Natural History – not only can you generate 3D models of your favourite dinos, but it gives you the option to toggle their scale too. So you can either hold a brontosaurus in the palm of your hand or let it tower above you at its natural size.

There's a big benefit to displaying 3D models instead of the 2D images you'd see in a natural history book, aside from the obvious interactive element. Palaeontology is a constantly changing field, with new evidence being discovered every day. Delivering digital models allows developers to keep things up to date, so they can rid their educational tools of historical inaccuracies.

5. WorldBrush

Given the opportunity, kids would love nothing more than to start drawing on your walls. Well, with WorldBrush they can paint whatever they want, whenever they want, wherever they want.

Best of all, your WorldBrush doodle occupies 3D virtual space. This means the app can be used as more than just an illustration tool – it can be a modelling tool as well.

WorldBrush lets kids share their drawings with other users too, making it ideal for group work and class discussions.

WorldBrush has huge potential and countless applications. For instance, it could even be used by a teacher to explain a complicated subject through visual aids. Students could then get involved by adding their own drawings and annotations. Innovative stuff.

At Expand Reality, we're set on getting businesses up to speed on the latest advancements and benefits that extended reality (XR) has to offer. Why not explore our XR devices or head to our blog for the latest industry news and updates?