AUGMENTED REALITY IN THE COLOMBIAN EDUCATIONAL CONTEXT: A PEDAGOGICAL INNOVATION STRATEGY

Abstract

In the current Colombian context, the educational system faces significant challenges regarding the application of digital resources in the pedagogical process. Among these challenges, the lack of adequate infrastructure, insufficient teacher training, and the digital divide in both urban and rural teaching environments can be highlighted. Based on this, the present essay proposes a reflection on Augmented Reality (AR) as a pedagogical strategy that, from both a theoretical and practical approach, has the potential to enrich education through visual and interactive learning experiences that make it easier to understand concepts in a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) framework. The methodology used includes document exploration through a review of previous international studies, as well as a comparative analysis of international experiences in the application of AR and its contextualization within the Colombian educational system. The essay examines the advantages of integrating this type of technology into classrooms, emphasizing its transformative potential in the teaching-learning process by improving the understanding of abstract concepts through interactive learning, as AR overlays digital elements onto the physical world in a dynamic and participatory way. The reflections also mention the joint effort and commitment of educational stakeholders in overcoming the initially mentioned challenges, recognizing and enhancing the possibilities offered by this technology to modernize education in Colombia, as it not only represents a tool to improve educational quality but also a means to close existing gaps and generate new learning opportunities in all contexts.