Integrating Augmented Reality (AR) in higher education: A breakthrough in EFL reading instruction

Despite growing interest in Augmented Reality (AR) in language education, few studies have systematically evaluated its impact on EFL reading comprehension or examined instructors’ perspectives, particularly in Indonesian contexts. This study employed a quasi-experimental mixed-methods design to in...

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Main Authors: Mustakim Sagita, Issy Yuliasri, Abdurrahman Faridi, Hendi Pratama
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang 2025-06-01
Series:English Learning Innovation
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Online Access:https://ejournal.umm.ac.id/index.php/englie/article/view/40839
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author Mustakim Sagita
Issy Yuliasri
Abdurrahman Faridi
Hendi Pratama
author_facet Mustakim Sagita
Issy Yuliasri
Abdurrahman Faridi
Hendi Pratama
author_sort Mustakim Sagita
collection DOAJ
description Despite growing interest in Augmented Reality (AR) in language education, few studies have systematically evaluated its impact on EFL reading comprehension or examined instructors’ perspectives, particularly in Indonesian contexts. This study employed a quasi-experimental mixed-methods design to investigate the effectiveness of Assemblr EDU, an AR-based application, in enhancing reading comprehension among 104 B1-level Indonesian EFL undergraduates. Using the Dialang test and one-way ANCOVA, results showed a significant improvement in the experimental group’s posttest scores (M = 15.61) compared to the control group (M = 12.43), with a large effect size (partial η² = .919, p < .001). The mean difference of -2.808 (p = .000) confirms the substantial advantage of AR integration. Qualitative data from semi-structured interviews with six experienced lecturers, thematically analyzed, revealed that AR fostered student motivation, vocabulary retention, and conceptual understanding through multimodal interaction. However, technical limitations and access issues were identified as persistent challenges. The findings support AR’s pedagogical relevance in EFL reading instruction, though successful implementation demands infrastructural readiness and teacher training.
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publisher Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang
record_format Article
series English Learning Innovation
spelling doaj-art-7a8723d13dee43aba3ba3df1f6da2a1b2025-08-20T02:09:34ZengUniversitas Muhammadiyah MalangEnglish Learning Innovation2723-74002723-74192025-06-016210.22219/englie.v6i2.40839Integrating Augmented Reality (AR) in higher education: A breakthrough in EFL reading instructionMustakim Sagita0Issy Yuliasri1Abdurrahman Faridi2Hendi Pratama3English Language and Education Department, Faculty of Teaching Training and Education, Universitas Jabal Ghafur, Aceh, Indonesia and Postgraduate Program of English Language Education, Faculty of Language and Arts, Universitas Negeri Semarang, IndonesiaEnglish Education Department, Faculty of Language and Arts, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Semarang, IndonesiaEnglish Education Department, Faculty of Language and Arts, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Semarang, IndonesiaEnglish Education Department, Faculty of Language and Arts, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Semarang, Indonesia Despite growing interest in Augmented Reality (AR) in language education, few studies have systematically evaluated its impact on EFL reading comprehension or examined instructors’ perspectives, particularly in Indonesian contexts. This study employed a quasi-experimental mixed-methods design to investigate the effectiveness of Assemblr EDU, an AR-based application, in enhancing reading comprehension among 104 B1-level Indonesian EFL undergraduates. Using the Dialang test and one-way ANCOVA, results showed a significant improvement in the experimental group’s posttest scores (M = 15.61) compared to the control group (M = 12.43), with a large effect size (partial η² = .919, p < .001). The mean difference of -2.808 (p = .000) confirms the substantial advantage of AR integration. Qualitative data from semi-structured interviews with six experienced lecturers, thematically analyzed, revealed that AR fostered student motivation, vocabulary retention, and conceptual understanding through multimodal interaction. However, technical limitations and access issues were identified as persistent challenges. The findings support AR’s pedagogical relevance in EFL reading instruction, though successful implementation demands infrastructural readiness and teacher training. https://ejournal.umm.ac.id/index.php/englie/article/view/40839Assemblr EDUAugmented realityPerspectives of LecturersReading comprehension
spellingShingle Mustakim Sagita
Issy Yuliasri
Abdurrahman Faridi
Hendi Pratama
Integrating Augmented Reality (AR) in higher education: A breakthrough in EFL reading instruction
English Learning Innovation
Assemblr EDU
Augmented reality
Perspectives of Lecturers
Reading comprehension
title Integrating Augmented Reality (AR) in higher education: A breakthrough in EFL reading instruction
title_full Integrating Augmented Reality (AR) in higher education: A breakthrough in EFL reading instruction
title_fullStr Integrating Augmented Reality (AR) in higher education: A breakthrough in EFL reading instruction
title_full_unstemmed Integrating Augmented Reality (AR) in higher education: A breakthrough in EFL reading instruction
title_short Integrating Augmented Reality (AR) in higher education: A breakthrough in EFL reading instruction
title_sort integrating augmented reality ar in higher education a breakthrough in efl reading instruction
topic Assemblr EDU
Augmented reality
Perspectives of Lecturers
Reading comprehension
url https://ejournal.umm.ac.id/index.php/englie/article/view/40839
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