Chemistry, one of the most important subjects in high school science, has always been a challenge to teach and learn. Traditional teaching methods, such as lectures and textbooks, are often dull and ineffective in engaging students and helping them retain information. In recent years, technology has become a valuable tool in education, offering new and innovative ways to learn. Electron+, an educational app in the form of a game box, is a prime example of how technology can make learning chemistry more interactive, memorable, and fun. It was created during a hackathon event with the goal of coming up with innovative solutions for Educational challenges.

5 Days

Unity3d, Figma, Blender, Vuforia Engine, Illustrator, Google Meet

Emmanuel Daramola(Team Lead, UX designer, AR developer)

Ede Odinakachukwu J(UX research, UI design)

Hafsah El-Yakubu(UX research, Pitch Presentation)

Salihu Ibrahim(3D Artist)

Team Lead

AR Developer

UX Designer

UX Research

The problem that Electron+ aim to address is the difficulty that students face when learning about the elements of the periodic table and their reactions. Traditional teaching methods, such as lectures and textbooks, can be boring and ineffective for many students. There is a need for a more engaging and interactive way of learning this important subject.

Electron+ was created with the objective of providing students with a fun and interactive way to learn about the elements of the periodic table and their reactions. By combining augmented reality and gamification, Electron+ aims to make the learning process more engaging and memorable for students.

As a hackathon project, Electron+ was developed with a focus on creating a minimum viable product (MVP) in a limited time frame. The objective was to showcase the potential of the app and gather feedback from users in order to refine and improve the product in the future.

Electron+ is an educational app in the form of a game box that offers students a better understanding of chemical elements. It provides new interactive ways to learn about the elements of the periodic table. Each element is represented by a game card that can be easily identified by the Vuforia engine, which augments the 3D models of each element’s atomic structure. By placing the cards side by side, students can create different chemical reactions and see the outcome in real time.

For a developing country like Nigeria to break even in science and technology, we need quality and accessible education for future generations. Chemistry as a subject is an essential subject in all courses including medical/pharmaceutical and health science, engineering, environmental technology, agriculture, and engineering. Chemistry deals with the structure, composition, and reaction of matter.

Despite its importance, students have shown persistent poor achievement in chemistry in both external and internal examinations in secondary schools in Nigeria over the years. In fact, according to a study, the performance of Nigerian students in chemistry in the May/June School Certificate Examinations of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) between 2008 and 2014 showed that the percentage of credit passes was less than 40% for the majority of the years reviewed.

BUT What could be the reason? We went to a school to find out…

The team decided to carry out further research on the 3rd day of the project by visiting a local school. This was done in order to gain a better understanding of the needs and preferences of their target market, which are secondary school students. By speaking with teachers and students, the team was able to gather valuable insights that we could use to improve the app and make it more effective for students. This research visit allowed the team to validate the assumptions, identify any gaps in our understanding, and make necessary adjustments to the design and development approach.

School Research and interview carried out by Ede Odinakachukwu J

Electron+ has three main features:

In the AR Lab mode, users are able to test different chemical reactions and see the resulting forms in augmented reality. This was accomplished by using game cards representing different elements of the periodic table as anchors for digital models. The game cards allows users to create chemical reactions in a fun and interactive way, making learning about chemistry more engaging. The AR technology was used to bring the digital models to life and provide an immersive experience for the users.

By placing the cards side by side it gives the user the ability to see what reactions they bring up.

The Library mode is designed to be an educational resource for users to learn more about different chemical elements and their reactions. This mode uses the same game cards as anchors, and provides a collection of augmented information that users can interact with in their physical space. The information is displayed in a visually appealing and engaging manner, making it easy for users to understand and retain the knowledge. The Library mode provides users with a convenient and interactive way to learn about chemistry, making it a valuable resource for students, teachers, and anyone interested in the subject.

This makes the learning experience interactive and fun, as users can test their knowledge on the elements and chemical reactions, while being surrounded by the AR experience. The quiz section is designed to enhance the learning experience and help users retain the information better. By having both an on-screen and AR mode, the app caters to the diverse learning preferences of users, making the learning experience more inclusive. The score tracking feature also motivates users to keep learning and improving their scores, thus making the learning process more engaging. Additionally, the ability to share scores with others encourages friendly competition and makes the learning experience more social.

Electron+ can Provide a direct and convenient Experience that is Flexible enough For Learning Important Concepts In Chemical Reactions

Unlike other technologies, it is more affordable and can be used without connectivity to the internet

Adoption of an AI that analyzes the common mistakes users make when taking quizzes to create adaptive lessons that meets the users’ learning needs…

The AI system profiles each user and makes accurate predictions about their learning journey to ensure a personalized experience.

The game cards can be used as flashcards to learn about Elements without a device.

Electron+ Can be used with traditional teaching methods to make learning more fun and interactive between peers.

Quiz and Library features can be used to practice for JAMB and WAEC exams.

Representation of chemical elements- one of our first challenges was how to represent the chemical elements as we had elements that were without shape our colour. So we eventually decided on representing each element with their atomic structures.

Another challenge was creating a user-friendly interface that was easy to navigate, especially within the limited time frame of the hackathon. This involved conducting user research and testing different design concepts to see what worked best. We also had to take into consideration the different types of users that would be using the app, including students, teachers, and researchers, and ensure that the design was suitable for all.

In the limited time available for the hackathon project, the user interface (UI) design was created to be both intuitive and functional. The design was based on the results of user research and focused on making the app as simple and straightforward as possible. This involved creating a clear and concise navigation system, using clear and easily understandable icons, and ensuring that all the information presented was relevant to the task at hand.

Electron+ UI designs

The game cards served as the image targets that were recognized by the Vuforia engine to trigger the AR experience. Vuforia is an AR development platform that allows developers to create AR experiences by recognizing specific image targets and overlaying digital content on top of them. In our hackathon project, we used Vuforia to recognize the game cards representing different elements of the periodic table and display their digital models in augmented reality.

Game Cards/Image Target

A working prototype of Electron+

Demo Video of Electron+

Electron+ is an innovative educational app that revolutionizes the way students learn about chemistry. The app provides students with a fun and interactive learning experience that makes it easier for them to understand and remember the properties of different elements and their reactions. The app has been designed to meet the needs of students.

You can contact me via LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Behance