The Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum launched a leading edge Augmented Reality (AR) experience – powered by Google – as part of our Called2Change program for Oklahoma City 9th grade students at U.S. Grant High School. This technology provides students and teachers with an in-classroom experience that is a pre-visit to the Memorial and Museum. Artifacts from the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, integrated with digitally created content, photos and videos stories of family members, survivors and rescue workers, make this story authentic and relevant in today’s world.

Using tablets, students interact with 3D buildings, videos, overlays and more, immersing them in the experience and bringing real world environments about the story into their classroom. Through this hands-on experience, all will be Called2Change, their life, their school and their world…for the better. Students have a deeper connection to the Memorial and Museum before they arrive for their visit.

“We are teaching a generation of students who didn’t live this story but are impacted by it all their lives,” said Kari Watkins, Executive Director, Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. “This AR interactive experience not only helps tell our story, but challenges curiosity and encourages critical thinking, allowing students to become more engaged in their own learning.”

The devices, training and AR software development for the program was made possible by a $75,000 grant funded through the Google, Inc. Charitable Giving Fund of the Tides Foundation. “The Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum is a shining example of the Oklahoma Standard and continues to demonstrate its commitment to using powerful, state-of-the-art technology to carry out their mission,” said Andrew Silvestri, head of community affairs for Google in Oklahoma. “Google has called Oklahoma home for more than a decade and is honored to help champion a space and mission so vital to Oklahoma.”

“In the last 3 years, more than 3,300 freshmen from OKCPS high schools have participated in Called2Change, visiting the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. There they learn the story of the Oklahoma City bombing, the resilience and hope that followed, and how those things can positively impact their life, school and community, ” said OKCPS Supt. Sean McDaniel. “This new augmented reality experience will capitalize on technology to expand and enhance their learning, helping them to be fully engaged and ready to appreciate their experience at the Memorial and Museum when they arrive. OKCPS is so grateful for our continued partnership with the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, for Google’s support of this leading edge Augmented Reality project, and for our friends at OG&E, One Gas and The Chickasaw Nation who cover the cost of admission and transportation for these trips. I have no doubt that exposure to opportunities like this have a life-long impact on our students.”