Aplication of Design Thinking in the designo f an interactive Chemistry environment with Augmented Reality

Abstract

This paper presents the creation of an interactive chemistry environment using augmented reality, based on the principle of user-centered design. This research begins by identifying a shortcoming in chemistry education at a secondary school in Ecuador, as evidenced by students' difficulty understanding abstract concepts and the limited incorporation of modern technologies into the curriculum. Using a research approach that integrates both quantitative and qualitative techniques, students and teachers were involved in the phases of empathy, definition, ideation, prototype development, and evaluation. As a result, a prototype called QuimAR was developed, which combines three-dimensional simulations, interactive activities, and gamification elements. The results reveal that augmented reality not only increases motivation but also strengthens the assimilation of concepts and improves information retention, positioning itself as an educational tool with great potential. Therefore, it is concluded that QuimAR offers an innovative alternative for teaching chemistry in secondary education, with the feasibility of being applied in other academic disciplines.alternative for Chemistry teaching in high school education, with the added advantage of scalability to other disciplines.