Using AR/VR in a Variety of Ways

 

We've spoken about our Pet Day 2026 created senior Fairy Village.  Each of the students had a section of the diorama that was put together to form a large display.   It wasn't our junior students display however we were wanted to use it as a backdrop and background for our students to use their iPads and the Tinkercad App and its ability to project images using the AR/VR button.

There's so many examples of this process and how we've used this with our students with a variety of environments.   There is no green screening or additional resources required for the students to complete the work - the students simply project the design, either an original creation from themselves or something that the have found online or part of the Tinkercad resource library.

You can click here to see how we've used it with our Puanga Art Project earlier this year working on 'Pumpkin' celebrations this year or even our 2025 designed Christmas Tree's.

This example shown left features a Polar Bear from the main Tinkercad interface.   The students did not design the bear it was simply located from the search bar and then imported into the Tinkercad App.   From there the student was able to simply click on the AR/VR button and using their iPad projected the image onto the scene.   The Polar Bear image was then taken as an iPad screenshot.   The screenshot was saved to the students camera roll.   This image was then altered by being run through a range of filters.   For this process we gave the students the option of using the editing process for the photograph or using another app - which in this case was Pic Collage.

This image shown left is the 'Starry Night' filter with the Pic Collage App.   It has been used in conjunction with Tinkercad.   In the middle of the bridge, which was set up between the two classrooms work - a car has been projected onto the bridge.   At the same time there were other students in the background - these are the figures that you can see standing int the background although their image, features and ages have all been significantly altered.   The teacher themselves was in the middle of the photograph and has been removed and replaced as a cape or a sheet - which has been a discussion and talking point all in itself with the students.   The process to complete has taken under one minute to apply the generic filter.

The process was also completed with other filters such as shown left.   This design was created by a student - its first stage was the designing of the Angel like figure which is on the bridge (this is the same bridge with the 'Starry Night' filter above).   The figure was then projected into the middle of the bridge.    When that was completed the student decided that they wanted to use a filter to complete the design and this was the same filter that was used with the other recent post detailing this process the B/W Pencil option.

We have been using Pic Collage as an option for AR/VR purposes.   Recently with the development of more individualised AR/VR with programs such as Chat GPT.   Pic Collage not to be outdone have introduced an open option for the purpose of filters - in the case of the example on the left the student took a photograph of the Fairy Village, and focussed on the pond part of one of the sections.   They then made the decision to create a AR/VR input of make the filter like the 1400's - which then transformed it into the market scene that is shown left.

This is another example of focussing on one element of the fairy village - the pond.    This was created by students, the AR/VR component of it was the duck that was projected into the middle of the pond (this is the same pond that was featured in the photograph above and had the 1400's filter applied to it).

Once this had been screenshot by the student the process of selecting a range of filters was then carried out.   The selected filter was the Pic Collage - Japanese Cherry Blossom that then added the different layers to the final image.   

It goes without saying that the goal of each of the projects is to produce a digital image and not a 3D Print of a physical nature.  

Motion: VR/AR + Chat GPT

Tinkercad  and its design platform is constantly evolving and changing and during that time the students are constantly finding ways to develop the skills and ideas.   One of the best activities that we have found has been the process by which we've taken images created using Tinkercad and found ways to display or develop them other than the traditional way in which we would present the creation.

The digital image that is available from a Tinkercad screenshot is something that we've already taken the image with and applied it in different context.  One of the best ways that we've done this has been the application of filters to the image.

It will also be possible to use Chat GPT to alter the image as well.

In the example shown left the Tinkercad design has been uploaded into Chat GPT.  With it we have used the screenshot above.  The prompt to that was with the description was to explain how the design work and also how the design might be improved.  The language that has come with the design is something that the student will investigate to see how it compares to the language they might use.

The explanation of how the design works likewise could be compared to its intended purpose.  There is range of generic information that has been created by the process which is included at the base of the design - but it does have a range of suggestions for the student on how they might improve the design.

Again the purpose of this is to consider how we might create a virtual image, how we might test it and develop it to ensure that it is workable and then ultimately what we might consider for the purposes of publishing.

As we have demonstrated in the past visual apps such as Pic Collage have the ability to take the image and manipulate it in a range of settings and motions.   This image shown left is the same basic Tinkercad image which has then had a 'starry night' filter applied to it.

There are a significant number of examples of this process which are featured on this blog - you can view the examples by using the search bar or clicking on some of the links such as this summary post here.

Using Tinkercad as an AR/VR Tool with Filters

 

Yesterday we posted about using Tinkercad as a tool to create an image, not a 3D Print, that was then projected using the AR/VR tool onto a background.

The next (and final) step in the process is to take the image from the previous activity and then apply a filter to it.   In this case we are using the Pic Collage Filters from the App that are available with a standard app purchase (ie without the extensions).

In each instance the students have taken their creation of the original scene, with their detail added and then put it into a filter.   This filter varies slightly in creation time but it tends to be under thirty seconds and applies a filter to the scene which the students are able to then to review and decide upon.

The two examples here shown feature the 'Christmas' themed filter.   In the first example the crane can be seen although a number of the objects have been extensively redesigned.

In the second image the Tinkercad addition is the box in the immediate bottom right of the image.

This process featured in one of our 'year in review' posts from last year which focussed on a round up of highlights.  You can click on the link to this post here.

In addition as always if you use the 'search' bar/icon from the top right hand corner you can use the search words 'pic collage' to find a wealth of additional posts and material.

Not every filter was able to create an effective combination with the students design.   This process allowed an entire classroom of students to complete the process in the duration of an afternoon block of time (just under one hour).   It allowed the students design time, reflection time, sharing time (with the class) followed by our posting time (to Seesaw).

This is the same image as previously shown and it is with the 'water colour' filter.  Again it highlights the students design and places it within the design as an accurate and authentic piece which was not possible when it remained in Pic Collage.

The students who completed this process were the wonderful group of seven and eight year olds whose work is featured on this blog.

3D Printed SVG Stencil

 

Challenge: To use an SVG file to produce an effective and working stencil.

Background: We detailed the creation of this process earlier when we explained how the students rather than creating an original file from scratch (which can at times be time consuming and also frustrating to get the details extremely accurate.   

One of the options to reduce either the timeframe or the process is to use freely available SVG files as we have detailed, including this previous example of a school bus.   This instance saw the student taking a seperate 'profile' image and use that image to create a series of visual images.

This process involved taking the image using the Tinkercad App and then projecting it to an outside location.   When this had been completed the student used their iPad to take a screenshot of the image and record it.

They then took the image that they had created and used the Pic Collage app to apply a filter to the picture.

The final stage of the process was then take the original design and 3D Print it.

Resources Used: Tinkercad App, iPad, Pic Collage App, 3D Printer and 3D Printer PLA.

Level of Difficulty: Low - the process most challenging part for the student was to select an SVG file that would be suitable for a 3D Print.   Some of the files suggested made great AR/VR images but were then discounted as 3D prints due to their design or shape.

Size: The physical 3D Print measures 160mm across and was 70mm high.  The print was 1mm thick.

Cost/Price: As it was a stencil the print used only 8g of filament to complete the process and this had a corresponding price point of $0.20.

Timeframe: This project took twenty minutes in total to complete - five minutes to warm up the printer and fifteen minutes to complete the actual print.

What we would do differently/Next Steps for the students: The space between the smaller windows at the back of the bus is quite small so while it should work as a stencil if it was spray painted actually colouring it in would be a challenge.  The student who completed this project is an eight year old student who is working as part of the cohort one this year - ie they have had one and half terms of 3D Printing experience.

AR/VR Design Creating 'Lego/Not-Lego' Part Two

This is the second part of our 'Lego-Not Lego' challenge involving our 'bargain' purchase of a set of supermarket bricks.

The first challenge of the set involved creating the 'lego' not lego figure that was then projected into the scene - and around our school.

The follow up challenge was to place a static object into the scene so it looked liked it belonged.   This was a similar activity to our '#tinkercadhunt'.    An early version of this showed this student creating this table and placing it in the scene.

This example in this series shows a range of photos that have followed a similar process.   The design that has been added to the scene is the same one that featured in this post of the blog, in the third photo in that series that featured a frying pan.

This image projected onto the kitchen bench in the top photo.  Wanting to develop the photograph further the student took the photographic image created with AR/VR and then applied a #PicCollage filter.   This then modified the image creating texture on the finish and adding waves and the ocean into the background.

The same image was then put through an additional filter, as shown left.   This image created a second image which differed from the first in terms of the background and the definition of the image.

The entire process took less then twenty minutes to complete from the applying AR/VR design to the background to then road testing a range of images that were suitable for the filter process.  It was not perfect as several filters were applied that replaced a significant portion of the image (thus rendering the new image as unusable).

There is a range of images associated with this task - this is a small sample of the total amount of images from the (class) project.  We will be putting the remainder of the image on Facebook on the this sites companion page.

Combing Tinkercad + Pic Collage Step Two and Three

 This weeks classroom challenge for the seven and eight year olds at Auroa Primary School has been using AR/VR technology in using Tinkercad to AR/VR students design - and then we have 'app smashed'.

In this example shown left you can see a screenshot from a students iPad.   The design that is present in the figure is the original Tinkercad design.   Using the students iPad and the Tinkecad App a single button allows the projecting of the image to nearly any location and nearly any size.

The student has super-sized this design so it towers over a local building (the Auroa Cricket Club) and the Auroa Primary School Field.   The student concerned is a cohort one student who is eight years old who worked on this design independently without any teacher input.   The design brief was to create a original 'lego inspired' figure for our 'lego - not lego'  design and this is the second step in the process.     While this design is creative and amusing.

This is the same figure with a Pic Collage Filter applied (which in this case is the Autumn figure) it has changed the image background significantly and turned it from an interesting one into something more creative.   The process for this was to apply the app and use the 'Magic Camera' AR/VR filter.    It then produced the finished shown left.

The student now needs to consider the trimming or the editing of the photo and then reintroduce the altered image back into a photo editing program before it is displayed on the wall or as part of a digital display.

This is a further example shown left.  In this example the student created a frying pan as part of the objects to be placed inside the 'lego-not lego' task.   The design took the students under ten minutes to create and then project into the kitchen setting.   Once this had been completed the student experimented with different pic collage filter to look at what would manipulate the image to produce the most striking image and settled on the image shown left.

Again the final step is to manipulate the image again in photo-editing software to complete the task. 

Virtual Christmas Designs: Into Cards

 

The design shown left is a Christmas card created by a student in Y4 (eight years old).  We have been detailing this process recently where the focus has been on to complete a virtual creation - in this case using Tinkercad and crossing it with Pic Collage.

We detailed this process with the creation of our virtual Christmas trees and also previously using the designs to show a song.   In this instance the next step is to reapply the design process and the students using their iPad to create a material art project.

The snowman inside the globe has been created using Tinkercad with the student creating it as part of a Christmas Challenge.  They have then AR/VR the design into the classroom setting to remove the background and used the PicCollage app to take a virtual image.   The virtual image uses the shapes in the background to create a raft of festive themed images.

The students have then taken this image and reintroduced it to Pic Collage - here they have then added the Merry Christmas heading which you can see in the picture.  We actually used a range of designs from other locations (a extended font search) and looked at printing out these fonts and adding the lettering onto the original picture the students opted to include it with the original.

The next stage was to look at the cover - the students as they were using the iPads to screenshot an image had a couple of watermarks to discuss, and look at options to potentially cover them.

Finally the message that was placed inside the card was a seperate writing lesson, the details were fairly standard but a combination of the card shape, the original design an image on the front and then the students message on the inside of the card proved to be effective.

This extended the lesson out further and included a written element which took it from a standard Tinkercad design into something with a range of layers to it.     We also looked at the composition of the card and whether the original design suited a portrait or landscape design and what else could be created.

This also sent the students back into their Tinkercad accounts- looking for previous designs that they might be able to apply a filter to.   An example is the Santa figure shown in the image left - this was a previous design created and turned into a 3D Print that featured earlier on this blog.  The student felt the image would benefit from being put through a filter so they added additional features to the design (the body) which they felt the filter would then pick up and add details to (which it did).

The last potential stage would how else could we use art techniques with the card? We considered the applying of dye to form a border around the image on the cover - and how the rest of the inside of the card might be decorated, as well as the overall size.

By utilizing Tinkercad in this way the students were able to take an original image, apply the filter and rework and represent it into something completely different, unique and using their iPads and two apps to do so.   They worked independently as seven and eight year olds to complete the task without any teacher input.   They also used 3D modelling to make something that did not require 3D Printing or another technology to be applied to it.

Tinkercad/scribble + Pic Collage Filter

We have a range of students in the classroom a group who have been working in the class time provided (which is usually once or twice a week for forty five minutes or so) and also in their own time to use their iPads to develop their design skills.

During that time in class over the course of the year we get students who develop their ideas and skills and we build into them the ideas, encourage creativity and look for ways to have moments of excitement and magic with them.  Sometimes in the time frame they work this creativity in ways that is great to share.  As we posted recently our creative 'festive' designs have started taking shape for the year.   

Another example is the original design shown left.  This was created by an eight year old student whose been designing in the first year of using Tinkercad as an app.   The student tends to be a little reserved with some of their ideas.   They opted to use the Tinkercad scribble tool which we have used in the past and created an elf like figure, which is shown in the photograph above.   They then used their iPad and the Tinkercad apps AR/VR function to start projecting their image in different locations around the classroom.   In the photo above it is 'standing' on the floor of the classroom.   The student has used one of the 2025 Market Day Christmas trees to include in this projected image as she intended to use the Pic Collage filter for the next step.

The image shown left is the Tinkercad image, which has then been VR/AR projected onto the floor and then screen shot, which has then had the Pic Collage Silent Night 2 filter (which is currently free for anyone who has the app) applied to it.

The filter has taken the design added additional features, taken the tree at the front, coloured the entire photo and then added the additional colour and stars to the picture.
 

There are currently a range of filters with the app that are available for use (and free) and the student used a range of them with her Tinkercad image.  She settled on this final design as she is going to create a Christmas Card using this image as the front of the card, with additional lettering and a message on the inside.

As noted the entire process took under one hour.   Other students also created a range of designs using Tinkercad for this project, searched through their Tinkercad accounts and looked for other designs that they could import and then 'filter'.   Some students opted for figures but we also had others building entire scenes such as the typical 'Santas Grotto' with a range of buildings and other features.    This task (using scribble) could easily be completed (successfully) by younger students.

Junior Masterclass - Pushing a Tinkercad Design

 

We have spoken at length about a number of reasons why our students use Tinkercad (on iPad) as part of class designs and challenges.   We have used it, in its free form, for ten years with a range of students, which date back to the very first posts on this blog.

We continue to find it manageable and creative - and an example of this is shown left.  This has been created by a student using Tinkercad to design a significant Christmas project.  

This student opted to design a Christmas Sleigh themed design.   He wanted to build the entire design by using Tinkercad to include the main shapes and the complete design.    The student has worked on this over a considerable period of time, refining, reworking and adapting to the design until he was happy with it.

This student has worked on a number of projects this year, which is his first year working with 3D Printers and CAD (Tinkercad) design.

We have yet to print this 3D Design - we have used Tinkercad to create an AR/VR version of this project, which has been placed outside our classroom.   The student has determined that he wants to create a Christmas Card based around this design.   He has begun the process of using different filters with the image that Tinkercad design created.

An example of the process of using filters, as supplied on Pic Collage, is shown left.

The student is continuing to experiment with this - ultimately we would like to experiment with the process of using the design, although the question is whether or not this will make the process of printing remains to be seen.

We are nearly finished for the school year in New Zealand we will be completing our final run of prints prior to school completing on December 16th 2024.