Technology is transforming the way we learn, see and understand the world around us. But schools and teachers don’t always benefit from these technological advances when it comes to teaching Australian history. It can be hard to engage students with century-old events through textbooks and lectures alone, especially when competing with the smartphones in their pockets.

And if students don’t connect with their history, the legacy and perspectives of these Queenslanders could be lost. So how can we help younger generations feel connected to these ANZAC stories?

We worked with curators from the Queensland Museum and teachers across south-east Queensland, to create an augmented reality app, letting students experience WWI through the eyes of an ANZAC war correspondent.

Using their smartphone or tablets as a vintage camera, students take on the role of a war correspondent on assignment for the Queenslander Pictorial. Students capture photographs and stories from men and women on their journey across the battlefields of Egypt and Palestine, Gallipoli, Pozières, and Villers-Bretonneux. Using their favourite photographs students then assemble their own newspaper article, featuring the stories they’ve learnt along the way.

To make sure this app would work for high schools, we went to the digital experts themselves; teenagers.

Our road-tests with schools across south east Queensland found not only were students more engaged, they were engaged and focused for longer. We smashed the 7 minute barrier for holding their attention, easily keeping them hooked for a full 40 minutes.

By making the learning more hands-on, students felt more connected, with 97% of them saying they found the app to be a better way to learn about WWI. The freedom to explore these locations allowed students to experience history in a whole new way. In fact, 88% enjoyed it so much they wished more classes were taught like this.

The ANZAC stories are an important touchpoint for Australians. Through this app, history teachers are better able to help students explore perspectives and deepen connections with Australian history.