McGraw Hill AR

McGraw Hill AR

Bring learning to life
with our augmented reality app
McGraw Hill AR

McGraw Hill and Verizon have partnered to create McGraw Hill AR, a free app combining proven content with powerful technology to engage your students in unique and impactful ways. See what's possible in your classroom.

What is McGraw Hill AR

McGraw Hill AR provides a great supplement to any core curriculum by helping students learn challenging or abstract concepts through playful, bite-sized experiences.

Whether using our augmented reality app experience or our 3-D web-based experience, students are engaged through interaction, exploration, and multi-sensory experiences.

These activities open new opportunities for learning, especially for students who don’t learn well through more traditional methods. Subjects covered include math, science, social studies, and ELA!

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Get to Know McGraw Hill AR

Two Experiences

Two Experiences. Two Languages. Same Approach.

McGraw Hill AR has an augmented reality app experience for classrooms with access to tablets and smartphones for learning, as well as a 3D web-based experience for classrooms with laptops and Chromebooks. Both experiences are also available in Spanish and offer the same 3-part pedagogical approach.

Observe: Students watch a narrated animation within the app.
Explore: Students interact with 3D objects and experiment at their own pace.
Evaluate: Students apply knowledge by answering interactive questions.

Augmented Reality App Experience

Using the power of augmented reality, students use their tablets or smartphones to layer 3D objects onto their real world—their desks, tables, floor, anywhere!

They can walk around the objects, interact with them, and see them from different angles for a more immersive, kinesthetic approach to learning.

Download the app for free from the App Store or Google Play. You can also scan the QR code to download McGraw Hill AR.

QR Code to scan and download the McGraw Hill AR App

3D Web-Based Experience

No mobile devices in the classroom? No problem. Students can access web versions for use on Chromebooks, laptops, and desktops.

The web experience presents the 3D objects against a static classroom backdrop. Students get to engage with the objects and manipulate them using their trackpad, mouse, and/or keyboard controls.

Go to mharonline.com to access these free web experiences now!

NOTE: Web versions will not run on the internet browsers of smartphones or tablets. Use the app for those devices.

Math

Math Activities

McGraw Hill AR helps students visualize math and see math in the world around them. From ski slopes to fireworks, from racing cars to desert islands, students can experience the fun in learning math and realize it’s not just about numbers and equations.

Topics Covered

Cross Sections
Rotations
Nets
Slope
Solving Equations
Game Theory
Growth Functions
Parallel and Skew Lines

Reflections
Pythagorean Theorem in 3D
Graph Theory
Quadratic Functions (Group)
Coordinate Plane
LCM
Ratios
Equivalent Fractions

Use the Content Progression Charts to review the grade levels appropriate for each activity. The App and Web Link Charts are handy for easily assigning direct links to each activity in your LMS or wherever you post assignments. And use the Correlations Chart to see how the activities align with our Reveal Math curriculum.

Science

Science Activities

Your science students can now experiment with the impossible in the classroom like dissecting the human eye, taking apart a v8 engine, or playing mini golf to understand reflection.

Topics Covered

Circulatory System
Glaciers
Human Eye
Law of Reflection (Group activity included)
Periodic Table
Photosynthesis
Respiratory System
Simple Machines
V8 Engines

ELA

ELA Activities

Students explore narrative elements and literary devices within visual and spatial storytelling experiences to connect more deeply with plot, characters, setting, and the language that shapes them. The first activity Romeo & Juliet invites students to reimagine the balcony scene using the source material to create their own representation and watch their production come to life!

Topics Covered

Shakespeare: Romeo & Juliet
The Great Race

Tutorials

If you’d like to see demos of the app for different subjects, please visit the tab for those subjects. These tutorials are intended to help you learn how to use, plan, and implement the app.

Planning Your Implementation (App Experience)

These are helpful tips on what to do before you start using the app experience with your students.

Planning Your Implementation (Web Experience)

These are helpful tips on what to do before you start using the web experience with your students.

Navigating the App Interface

This video will go over navigating the libraries in the App experience (searching, adding, updating, and archiving activities) as well as well as the functionality of the buttons throughout all the activities.

Navigating the Web Interface

This video will go over the functionality of the buttons in the web experience, as well as different ways to move and rotate views (using keyboard buttons and/or trackpads).

Setup & Anchoring (App only)

If you're using the app experience, this video gives tips on how to project the 3D images on to a surface during the "Setup" portion. Anchoring is not part of the web-based experience as that uses a built-in static backdrop for the 3D images.

Using the Tools (App & Web)

The Calculator and Draw tools can be valuable across many activities to support learning. This video will provide some suggestions on when and where to use them.

Changing Languages (App & Web)

Both the app and web experiences can be presented in Spanish, but the way you do it in each experience is different. In the app, you need to go to Settings, and in the web it’s a toggle in the upper right. Watch this video to learn more about changing languages.

Group Play (App & Web)

Select activities have options for Group Play. These are opportunities for students to collaborate to solve problems or compete against each other to achieve a learning objective. Watch this video to learn more.

Spatial Activities* (App only)

Select activities are made using a different technology called inside out spatial mapping. This only affects the app experience because it’s true augmented reality. Rather than projecting a single 3D object on one surface in front of you, the app projects all around you, so students feel more immersed in the activity. Watch this video to learn more.

*Students using the web experience can still access these activities; however, their experience remains the same because it’s web-based and doesn’t rely on augmented reality.

Teaching Aids

Guide your AR Integration with Standards-Aligned Lesson Plans

Professionally developed lesson plans include

Learning objectives and standards
Implementation tips
Student worksheet (same Evaluate exercises from app)
Extension activities (not in app)
Enrichment activities (not in app)

You can access these lesson plans by creating a free account at verizon.com/learning.

User Group

Join Our AR User Group!

Join a dynamic community of forward-thinking teachers exploring the power augmented reality in classroom:

Shape classroom learning through feedback on ideas in development
Connect with like-minded educators on uses of AR in the classroom
Access regular free training through webinars
Have your success spotlighted by McGraw Hill in articles
Earn digital badges to share achievements
Earn free stuff like McGraw Hill swag

Helpful Resources on McGraw Hill AR and Augmented Reality

Research

Research on Augmented Reality

We surveyed teachers, administrators and parents on their views about augmented reality in education. Read the results of our AR survey.

Podcasts

Podcasts Featuring McGraw Hill AR

Forward to Different: "Finding Easy to Use VR, AR, and GAI Resources That Effectively Accelerate Learning"
My EdTech Life: “The Future of AR/VR in Education”
Shake Up Learning: “10 AR Math Lessons You Need to See”

social studies augmented reality activity for classroom

Articles

Articles on Augmented Reality and/or Featuring McGraw Hill AR

Renee Dawson, an ed tech specialist at Atlanta Public Schools, shares her experiences using augmented reality in the classroom, including using McGraw Hill AR: “How Augmented Reality Helps Teachers Reach More Students"
Instructional technologist–and former teacher–Jaime Donally shares her thoughts in this review of McGraw Hill AR: “STEAMverse Day 20 - McGraw Hill ARC”
Get behind the scenes with the authors and developers of McGraw Hill AR to learn about the pedagogical and technical decisions made: “Deepen Learning with McGraw Hill AR”

In this Q&A, Heather Brantley, an instructional technologist and teacher at a Texas junior high school, discusses collaboration with McGraw Hill AR: “How Augmented Reality Fosters Student Curiosity and Collaboration”
This teacher shares how augmented reality has given her students opportunities to actively engage with lessons and how our free app, McGraw Hill AR, can help you effortlessly integrate AR into your classroom: ”How One Teacher Uses Augmented Reality in the Classroom”
Unsure about using augmented reality in the classroom? Read this blog post by an early adopter of augmented reality.

Webinars

Adventures in AR: Teacher Tales & Classroom Wins , Link will open in a new window

Watch this inspiring webinar featuring real stories from teachers using McGraw Hill AR. This dynamic panel discussion was moderated by Jaime Donally, renowned expert in immersive technologies for education and featured two educators using the app.

Planning Your Year with Augmented Reality Part 1: Implementation Tips , Link will open in a new window

Jaime Donally, author, speaker, and instructional technologist, joins the McGraw Hill team to discuss tips for getting started with McGraw Hill AR from understanding all the support resources available to tips for implementing it in the classroom.

Planning Your Year with Augmented Reality Part 2: New Content & Tools , Link will open in a new window

Jaime Donally, author, speaker, and instructional technologist, joins the McGraw Hill team to discuss the benefits of using the new 3D web-based experience in your classroom since so many schools are 1:1 with Chromebooks and don't necessarily have access to tablets. Also discussed are the new Drawing and Calculator tools and Spanish versions.

Complementing Your Core Curriculum with Augmented Reality Part 1: AR & Lesson Planning , Link will open in a new window

Jaime Donally, author, speaker, and instructional technologist on emerging technologies, speaks with Renee Dawson, Educational Technology Specialist from Atlanta Public Schools. They introduce you to the app, walk you through the app's features, and then dive into all of the lesson planning resources available for free in Verizon Innovative Learning HQ.

Complementing Your Core Curriculum with Augmented Reality Part 2: AR & Gamified Learning , Link will open in a new window

Jaime Donally, author, speaker, and instructional technologist on emerging technologies, speaks with Renee Dawson, Educational Technology Specialist from Atlanta Public Schools, as well as a panel of McGraw Hill content specialists. This webinar explores how McGraw Hill AR can transform traditional classroom lessons into engaging and interactive experiences that motivate students to learn through play.

Complementing Your Core Curriculum with Augmented Reality Part 3: AR & Group Play , Link will open in a new window

Jaime Donally, author, speaker, and instructional technologist on emerging technologies, speaks with Renee Dawson, Educational Technology Specialist from Atlanta Public Schools, as well as a panel of McGraw Hill content specialists. Here they dive into the new unique group play feature that students can use in-person and remotely and how the solo activities can be used collaboratively to build up to the group experience. Discover how collaboration and AR technology truly benefit the overall learning experience.

Immersive Learning Across Disciplines, Devices, and Languages , Link will open in a new window

Explore how a free, award-winning augmented reality app facilitates active learning in different ways within different subjects, including math, social studies, and science. Whether students learn on mobile phones, tablets, or laptops, speak English or Spanish, thrive learning solo or within groups, McGraw Hill AR expands opportunities for learning through immersive, bite-sized experiences.

Move Over AI: Why and How You Should Leverage AR Across the Curriculum Today , Link will open in a new window

In this engaging panel discussion, you’ll learn how AR can be a scalable way to create new, equitable opportunities for learning that engage even the hardest to reach students. Whether you’re an administrator looking to integrate innovative technology into your school or district or a teacher looking for free and engaging ways to supplement your curriculum, this webinar has something for you to learn and share with others.

Striving for Deeper Learning with Bite-Sized Augmented Reality , Link will open in a new window

While augmented reality (AR) deeply engages students through multimodal learning, it’s not widely used for instruction. Using a new, free AR app, participants will explore how AR can be powerful yet easy to integrate when experiences are bite-sized, aligned to learning objectives, and created with real classrooms in mind. Please plan to bring a mobile device to the session.

Tech Requirements

Web-based Experience (laptops & desktops)

General Requirements:

The browser is WebGL 2 capable.
The browser is HTML 5 standards-compliant.
The browser is 64-bit and supports WebAssembly.

System Support (matches ALEKS requirements):

Operating System: Windows 10+, Mac OS X 10.15+
Chromebook Chrome OS 30+
Screen Resolution: 1024x768
Browsers: Chrome 105+, Firefox 105+, Edge 110+, No support for IE 11

App Experience (smartphones & tablets)

Apple Devices

Guaranteed to work on:

iPhone 12 and later
iPhone SE (latest)
iPad (latest)
iPad Air 2
iPad Pro

Should work on:

iPhone 6s and newer
iPad 2017 and newer
iPad Pro (all)

Android Devices

Guaranteed to work on:

Samsung Galaxy S20 - S22
Google Pixel 6

What Educators Say About Our Augmented Reality Experiences

The students found the app extremely easy to use. They were appropriately challenged by some of the exercises, but they weren’t discouraged at all. In fact, it was the opposite. They were so engaged that even when the bell rang, they didn’t want to leave the classroom and just wanted to figure out the current challenge.

I love how this is designed for the students to work collaboratively or independently. It allows for students to foster that sense of independence with a rich learning experience.

This app helps with the challenges that we experienced by giving the students a 3D representation of the concepts that we're learning. It's also super engaging so they're more interested in playing around with the concept.