MagicARpet

MagicArpet is an interactive, floor-based learning system combining a segmented educational carpet, tangible tangram puzzle, and augmented reality (AR). Designed for children aged 4-7 in Piaget’s preoperational stage (Mcleod, 2009), it transforms the floor into an active learning surface that supports embodied learning through movement, spatial exploration, and hands-on problem-solving. Primarily intended for classrooms, it is adaptable to other environments such as waiting rooms or shopping centers. The system consists of 3 components: a segmented carpet defining 6 learning zones, tangram puzzle pieces, and an AR layer that animates and contextualizes physical constructions. The AR element extends rather than replaces physical engagement. Children assemble tangram figures representing forest elements or animals and physically move them across carpet zones to activate context-specific AR content. Through narrative guidance and problem-based tasks, they explore habitats, food relationships, environmental roles, and basic skills like counting. Tangram outlines range from fully guided (clearly defined pieces) to minimally guided (overall shape only), to adjust difficulty for older children and they can collect different animals or plants across zones for replayability. Scalability is achieved by changing carpet themes, e.g., switching to a sea theme, while retaining core interactions. By combining movement, spatial reasoning, and narrative-driven tasks within a classroom setting, the system leverages children’s natural modes of exploration while maintaining pedagogical structure and scalability.