ARIES aims to empower secondary school teachers and students with the skills, tools, and methodologies needed to integrate A&IR technologies effectively into curricular and extracurricular activities. To achieve this, the project successfully developed and delivered certified CPD courses for teachers, modular learning units for teachers and students, a collection of Innovative A&IR learning format, and a competence framework aligned with EU validation systems. It fostered innovation in teaching, enhanced digital and soft skills, and promoted collaborative learning. ARIES has created a sustainable model for integrating A&IR into school curricula, supported by an open learning hub and a transnational network of schools. These outcomes directly contributed to EU priorities on digital education, inclusion, and skills development. ARIES achieved all the deliverables included in the proposal.
We applied to address a well-defined gap: although Augmented and Immersive Reality (A&IR) has demonstrated clear educational benefits, its integration into secondary schools across the EU remains limited and uneven. Several barriers hinder adoption, including insufficient digital competencies among teachers, a lack of pedagogical frameworks, high costs of equipment, and the absence of reliable methods to validate non-formal learning experiences. Concurrently, Europe continues to face a shortage of STEM professionals and low student engagement in these disciplines. The ARIES initiative responds to these challenges by offering accessible strategies, tools, and validation mechanisms aligned with EU educational standards, enabling schools to implement A&IR effectively and at scale. Through collaborative design with our partners, we also addressed practical requirements by developing flexible, cost-effective solutions that integrate with existing curricula, support personalized learning pathways, promote international collaboration, and enhance the appeal of STEM subjects.