Exploiting Extended Reality Technologies for Educational Microscopy.

Exploiting extended reality technologies in laboratory training enhances both teaching and learning experiences. It complements the existing traditional learning/teaching methods related to science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. In this work, we use extended reality technologies to create an interactive learning environment with dynamic educational content. The proposed learning environment can be used by students of all levels of education, to facilitate laboratory-based understanding of scientific concepts. We introduce a low-cost and user-friendly multi-platform system for mobile devices which, when coupled with edutainment dynamics, simulation, extended reality and natural hand movements sensing technologies such as hand gestures with virtual triggers, is expected to engage users and prepare them efficiently for the actual on-site laboratory experiments. The proposed system is evaluated by a group of experts and the results are analyzed in detail, indicating the positive attitude of the evaluators towards the adoption of the proposed system in laboratory educational procedures. We conclude the paper by highlighting the capabilities of extended reality and dynamic content management in educational microscopy procedures.