Cambridge National in IT – augmented reality FAQs

This blog has been updated from the version first published in March 2022

Vinay Thawait, Subject Advisor, Computer Science, IT and Creative iMedia

As we have successfully completed two assessment series for our redeveloped Cambridge National IT (J836) qualification, teaching professionals are continuing to ask questions about the delivery and assessment of Unit R070: Using augmented reality to present information. We are committed to supporting you with your planning, delivery and assessment, so in this blog I’ll share these with you as you may have similar questions.

The qualification is accredited by our regulator, Ofqual, by meeting the Department for Education (DfE) requirement for qualifications in the Technical Award category of the 14-16 performance tables. Our qualification is included for both 2024 and 2025 performance tables. 

We also have a dedicated customer support webpage for Cambridge National in IT and we will update the FAQs section regularly. If you are not already signed up, please sign up to keep up to date through communications and emails. Please continue to ask questions using our official communication channels to allow us to keep supporting you with this qualification.

Frequently asked questions for unit R070

Are we allowed to use software such as MS PowerPoint slides, Google slides or similar presentation software to create an AR model prototype?

You must use an AR software development kit (SDK) currently available either as free or paid software.

The requirement for using an SDK is included within the unit ‘aims’ on page 28 of the J836 specification. It states that “it is essential students have access to an AR SDK to complete the assessment.” Page 34 of the spec states that for teaching content 3.1-3.4, “Students must use an AR SDK to be able to use the tools and techniques as listed in Topic 3 above to create, test and review their AR model prototype, see appendix C for more information. They must not use PowerPoint presentation software to create an AR model prototype.”

SDKs are very confusing for me. What do I do with them?

An SDK is a collection of software development tools in one installable/online package. You can choose to use an SDK to develop an AR model prototype using different types of assets (image, text, audio, video etc). 

What SDK can I use to develop an AR model prototype? 

We have trialled a range of AR SDKs (free and paid versions) with the model NEA assignment and found them to be suitable. Please download our recommended SDKs guide to review and choose the one that is best for your school setting and students. 

Which SDKs are currently used most by teachers?

We are aware that teachers have been using Adobe Aero, XR+ Online, ZapWorks Studio, Blippbuilder, OpenSpace3D Editor, and Unity Plugin Vuforia Engine. Some issues have been reported to us:

• Some teachers have experienced issues with installing Adobe Aero SDK in their school IT network due to not meeting the minimum system requirements. 
• With XR+ online SDK, some teachers have experienced limited user access from a single IP address for their students. 
• Teachers using the Blippbuilder web version as well as the Microsoft Teams Blippbuilder App have had no issues so far. 
• Unity Vuforia Engine is the least used AR SDK amongst teachers as the installation must match the minimum system requirements and the tools are difficult to use. 
• ZapWorks SDK is good, but it can only be used when purchasing an education licence. 
• OpenSpace3D SDK requires an education licence to be able to input customised audio within the solution.

Will OCR provide SDK focused or Unit R070 focused training for teachers? 

We will not be offering training on an end-to-end process connected with an SDK as we cannot be seen to be biased towards one SDK over others. All the recommended SDKs companies have YouTube videos, online tutorials or user guide documents available.

We are offering a number of free training courses focusing on the delivery and assessment of unit R070. This will include a short demo of one or more SDKs showing how the tools and techniques could be used for skills building and delivering AR content. 

Do you have any plans for providing tutorial guides for your recommended SDKs? 

No, our recommendation document includes links for SDKs tutorials or guides on how to use tools and techniques. 

Do we need any specific equipment/hardware for delivering and assessing the AR unit? 

No, there is no requirement to have any specific equipment/hardware for delivering unit R070. 

Depending upon your use of the SDK, you may require a class set or a few external webcams available for students to be able to test and review the AR model prototypes that they create as part of their final set assignment tasks. 

Will the screen print evidence of AR model prototype development be accepted for the topic area (TA3) mark band criteria? 

Students will be required to submit a video screen recording or a video recording of an AR model prototype working on a PC, laptop or mobile device screen with their assignment report to be able to achieve marks for the TA3. Some SDKs will allow an onscreen preview of the developed model prototype and for some SDKs you may require an external webcam to test and screen record or a video using a mobile device. 

It will be useful to provide some screen print evidence of the use of a chosen SDK for developing the AR model prototype. 

What software do I use for video screen recording of a working AR model prototype? 

Windows 10 has a free built-in ‘Game Bar’ tool which can be used for video screen recording. To use this, navigate to the screen you wish to record and press Win + G to open Game Bar. Alternatively, you could just press Win + Alt + R on your keyboard. 

Microsoft Teams, or similar video conferencing software that allows a meeting including screen to be recorded, could also be used to record a video screen recording. To use this: 

• Set up a meeting in Teams.
  
• Join the meeting, share the screen and record the PC/laptop screen where the AR model prototype is working.
  
• The video is recorded into Stream and can be shared as evidence.
  

Alternatively, you could directly share and record your computer screen using Microsoft Stream which is available as part of the Office 365 suite. 

There are other software applications available online to enable a video screen recording. 

Is there any guidance on what the assessment of unit R070 should look like? 

We have NEA exemplar material available for both unit R060 and R070 on our secure website, Teach Cambridge, to help teachers understand the assessment of these units.

We recommend the review of the ‘assessment guidance’ included within the specification page 34 for unit R070 with the marking criteria on spec pages 32-33 for all mark bands (MB1, MB2 and MB3). 

How do I install my chosen standalone SDK on our school IT system? 

Please review the system requirements for your chosen standalone SDK from their website. 

Liaise with your IT network manager in school to identify if your chosen SDK can be installed for students’ and staff use. 

What do the NEA assessment tasks look like for unit R070? 

We have sample NEA assignments for each unit of the qualification available on our qualification web pages and our secure website for teachers, Teach Cambridge. 

What planning and teaching resources are available for this qualification? 

The specification is on the Cambridge National IT qualification webpage. Free planning, teaching and assessment related resources for teachers are held on our secure website for teachers, Teach Cambridge.

The OCR endorsed student textbook and planning and teaching resources for teachers are available from publishers including Cambridge University Press and Hodder Education. Both publishers offer ‘executive preview’ of the digital version of the student’s textbook. Please contact them directly for further details.

We will continue to share further FAQs with questions/queries from teachers throughout the course of this qualification using our communication channels.

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If you have any questions please comment below, or email us at vocational.qualifications@ocr.org.uk or support@ocr.uk. You can also tweet @OCR_ICT or call our customer support centre on 01223 553998.

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About the author

Vinay joined OCR in July 2014 to support the GQ reform and development of the AS and A-Level Computer Science qualifications. Since then, he has been involved in the development of the reformed GCSE (9-1) Computer Science and Entry Level Computer Science and recently with the redevelopment of Cambridge National in IT qualification. Before joining OCR, Vinay spent more than 20 years in IT and Computer Science teaching and leadership roles, working for several schools as well as local authorities educational support team. He was the National Bid Lead for the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) initiative within Capita IT, and also the Head of Operations for an audio-visual educational software development company. Vinay has a degree, three post-graduate masters and NPQH from Warwick, Coventry, and Nottingham Universities.