3.2 Making Complex Systems More Accessible

In the Enhance phase, Augmented Reality (AR) is used to deepen students’ understanding of genetically modified organisms by transforming abstract and complex processes into interactive learning experiences. GMO-related changes often occur at the genetic level and influence systems over time, making them difficult to grasp through traditional teaching methods alone. AR provides a powerful way to visualise these processes and explore their broader implications.

The impact of GMOs often involves interconnected systems, such as food chains, ecosystems, and human activities. AR supports systems thinking by allowing students to visualise these relationships in an integrated way.

By interacting with layered AR content, learners can:

identify cause–effect relationships,
understand how changes in one part of a system influence others,
explore trade-offs between benefits and risks.

This makes AR particularly suitable for addressing the complexity of biotechnology topics, where simple answers are rarely sufficient.