Augmenting Visualization, Augmenting Thought: AR and AI as distinct cognitive scaffolds

Using the example of ARgonaut, an AR–AI–integrated STEM board game designed for middle-school students, I will illustrate how emerging technologies can support learning in different but complementary ways. ARgonaut was designed to explore the distinct affordances offered by tools such as Augmented Reality (AR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) when learners engage in problem solving. Through this example, I will show how AR visualizations can help learners see and manipulate complex ideas, while AI-based feedback can support reflection, error diagnosis, and conceptual understanding. Together, these tools demonstrate how thoughtfully designed learning environments can move beyond content delivery to actively scaffold learners’ reasoning and problem-solving processes.