[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ module_class=”hero_section” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ background_color=”rgba(12,0,0,0.25)” background_image=”https:\/\/education.ufl.edu\/etc\/files\/2025\/11\/AR-Project-PK-Visit-14.jpg” background_position=”center_left” custom_padding=”19em||19em||true|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”0px||0px||true” custom_padding=”25px||25px||true|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”31px|0px|0|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text module_class=”breadcrumbs-area” _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”||||||||” link_font=”Stolzl||||||||” link_text_color=”#000000″ header_font=”||||||||” custom_margin=”0px||0px” custom_padding=”0px||0px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Home<\/a>\u00a0$<\/span>Work<\/a>$<\/span>Online Dyslexia Certificate<\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”||30px” custom_padding=”31px|0px|0|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.0″ text_font=”Stolzl|700|||||||” text_text_color=”#20639b” text_font_size=”22px” header_font=”|700|||||||” header_text_color=”#000000″ header_2_font=”|700|||||||” header_2_text_color=”#000000″ header_2_font_size=”40px” header_2_line_height=”1.4em” custom_margin=”||0px” header_font_size_tablet=”” header_font_size_phone=”36px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” header_line_height_tablet=”” header_line_height_phone=”1.3em” header_line_height_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,1_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text module_class=”casestudy_overview_header” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ text_font=”|700|||||||” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”|||on|||||” header_2_text_color=”#20639b” header_2_font_size=”20px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n UF Lastinger Center for Learning<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text module_class=”casestudy_overview_header” _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”|700|||||||” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”|||on|||||” header_2_text_color=”#20639b” header_2_font_size=”20px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Application Development, Instructional Design<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text module_class=”casestudy_overview_header” _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”|700|||||||” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”|||on|||||” header_2_text_color=”#20639b” header_2_font_size=”20px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The Web & App Development and Instructional Design teams partnered Nigel Newbutt, Ph.D. (Emerging Technologies Teaching Lab), Elizabeth McConney (New Worlds Reading Initiative), P.K.Yonge Developmental Research School<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”80px|0px|80px|0px|true|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/education.ufl.edu\/etc\/files\/2025\/11\/AR-Project-PK-Visit-27.jpg” alt=”Instructor sits cross-legged on a classroom floor, leading a discussion with children; an interactive whiteboard displays a lesson behind them, with shelves” title_text=”AR Project- PK Visit-27″ align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.0″ header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”|700|||||||” header_2_text_color=”#173f5f” header_2_font_size=”18px” header_3_font=”|700|||||||” header_3_text_color=”#173f5f” header_3_font_size=”18px” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]In collaboration with the University of Florida College of Education, New Worlds Reading has released a free mobile application designed to inspire young readers to engage more deeply with books they receive through the statewide book distribution program. AR Expeditions<\/u><\/a> uses the immersive power of augmented reality (AR) to transform reading into an interactive experience where children can build virtual environments, play games and go on themed adventures, all while interacting with expert-reviewed literary content.<\/p>\n <\/span>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_direction=”144deg” background_color_gradient_stops=”rgba(19,42,94,0.68) 0%|rgba(0,0,0,0.85) 100%” background_color_gradient_overlays_image=”on” background_color_gradient_start=”rgba(19,42,94,0.68)” background_color_gradient_end=”rgba(0,0,0,0.85)” background_image=”https:\/\/education.ufl.edu\/etc\/files\/2025\/11\/AR-Project-PK-Visit-10.jpg” max_width=”2469px” custom_padding=”210px|4em|210px|4em|true|true” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”60px||60px||true” custom_css_main_element=”width: 100vw;” use_custom_width=”on” custom_width_px=”2469px” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”|800|||||||” header_2_text_color=”#f6d55c” header_2_font_size=”20px” header_6_font=”||||||||” header_6_text_color=”#f6d55c” header_6_font_size=”9px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_font_size=”27px” text_line_height=”1.9em” max_width=”64%” max_width_tablet=”” max_width_phone=”101%” max_width_last_edited=”on|phone” module_alignment=”center” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”18px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n To create a mobile application that makes reading for young children fun and interactive, breaking down barriers for reluctant readers and building a deeper connection to literacy.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”100px|0px|100px|0px|true|false” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”25px||25px||true” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/education.ufl.edu\/etc\/files\/2025\/11\/AR-Project-PK-Visit-19.jpg” alt=”Child holding a tablet in a classroom, viewing an augmented reality scene where a brown, seal-like animal is overlaid on a curved white table with orange” title_text=”AR Project- PK Visit-19″ align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/news.ufl.edu\/2025\/06\/third-grade-mini-researchers-at-uf-design\/” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”Read about our ‘mini researchers'” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ header_font=”|700|||||||” header_2_font=”|700|||||||” header_2_text_color=”#173f5f” header_2_font_size=”18px” header_3_font=”|700|||||||” header_3_text_color=”#173f5f” header_3_font_size=”18px” custom_margin=”||64px||false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Signed into law in June 2021, New Worlds Reading was created to support Florida\u2019s striving readers by strengthening literacy skills, boosting reading confidence and fostering a lifelong love of reading. Eligible children receive a free book each month during the school year, tailored to their interests and accompanied by activities for caregivers and children to use together. However, simply receiving books does not guarantee that students will engage with them. This presents a key challenge: how to motivate children, especially those reading below grade level, to pick up these books and read them.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.0″ header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”|700|||||||” header_2_text_color=”#173f5f” header_2_font_size=”18px” header_3_font=”|700|||||||” header_3_text_color=”#173f5f” header_3_font_size=”18px” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n To bridge this engagement gap the team developed AR Expeditions<\/u><\/a>, a free and accessible mobile app that combines interactive storytelling with the latest in augmented reality. Designed around common themes found in the distributed books, the app features four immersive expeditions that integrate age-appropriate vocabulary and literary concepts in a gamified format.[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”31px|0px|31px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.0″ header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”|700|||||||” header_2_text_color=”#173f5f” header_2_font_size=”18px” header_3_font=”|700|||||||” header_3_text_color=”#173f5f” header_3_font_size=”18px” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]The app was developed in-house by our advanced learning technologies team, with literacy alignment led by instructional designers from both ETC and New Worlds Reading. Co-design sessions with Nigel Newbutt, Ph.D., and elementary students and faculty helped shape gameplay mechanics and content that resonate with our target audience<\/u><\/a>. The result is a playful, research-informed experience that brings reading to life into the hands of children across Florida.<\/p>\n <\/span>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.24.0″ custom_padding=”31px|0px|31px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_code _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]AR Expeditions<\/h1>\n
Client<\/h2>\n
SERVICES<\/h2>\n
PARTNER<\/h2>\n
OBJECTIVE<\/h2>\n
The Challenge<\/h2>\n
The Solution<\/h2>\n