Get up close to climate change through AR in class. Inclusive and interactive.

WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT

Following on the highly successful WDR augmented reality app covering history from 1933–1945, which was downloaded 1.5 million times, the German broadcaster is releasing its “Die Klima App” (The Climate App). Digital education will never be the same. Use a tablet or smartphone and learn in a thrilling and hard-hitting new way. The app offers a choice of four different modules:

- Receive a virtual classroom visit from survivors of the flood disaster in Germany’s Ahr Valley. As they stand face to face with you, they’ll describe how they were trapped by the rising waters and feared for their lives. The augmented reality technology lets you experience the deluge and destruction for yourself.

- When you play the Save the Sea game, your classroom turns into an ocean, with plastic waste floating in it. You dive through a portal into the water and use a gripper to fish out the rubbish and earn points. At the end, you’re awarded a medal. There are also bonus bottles with animated information.

- Step into a virtual environment and experience the devastating regional forest fire in Gummersbach, Germany, as well as the dangers faced by residents and volunteers during the rescue operations. One firefighter recounts what it was like being up close to the blaze.

- Four young people join you virtually in the classroom to talk about the different ways in which climate change has impacted them. Anna is a farmer from Overath whose cows suffer from the heat. In Dinslaken, Aaron is cultivating a forest. Tina lives in Kuckum, a village affected by lignite mining. A Fridays for Future activist, Leonie talks about flooding in Uganda.

On top of that, there are facts and additional information (i) on the various topics.

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THE APP IN THE CLASSROOM

Teachers can access the dedicated lesson plans on various subjects as well as worksheets in the app menu (available only in German). Designed for students aged 13 to 16 years and suitable for inclusive learning groups, the climate app modules lend themselves to varied, interdisciplinary use.

FEATURES

o By downloading the WDR “Die Klima App”, you can use it offline without worrying about the quality of your network connection.

o The app is easy to use and inclusive.

o Different people and life stories play an important role.

o Climate change is brought to life through interdisciplinary topics. The use of animations in the many factual, informative videos keeps things exciting.

o The WDR “Die Klima App” is free of charge.

WHAT AUGMENTED REALITY MEANS

Augmented reality (AR for short) is a technology that blends the real world with virtual elements, allowing you to place virtual, three-dimensional animations and people in real rooms.

This means you can go on a voyage of discovery, exploring and moving around in the virtual environment. Virtual visitors who appear in real-world rooms will tell you their stories. These are short – 1:30 to four minutes – but very intense and very moving.