Imparting Materials Science Knowledge in the Field of the Crystal Structure of Metals in Times of Online Teaching: A Novel Online Laboratory Teaching Concept with an Augmented Reality Application

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many educators have been required to offer their courses online. A particular challenge is the implementation of practical laboratory experiments in the field of materials science. The central questions are the following: How can students carry out laboratory experiments at home? How are applications on mobile devices helpful in this context? How can experiments be organized to make students approach the topic with self-motivation and excitement? The concept presented in this paper combines the idea of practical work and the use of an augmented reality app. Guided by a well-structured online learning platform, video tutorials, and lab handouts, students were able to carry out their experiments from home. The results of the evaluation of this new laboratory experiment concept suggest that students very positively welcomed this form of education.