The acquisition of procedural knowledge is vital to learning content that emphasizes steps and sequences. However, such learning is difficult for learners in conventional teaching settings. Although research has confirmed that augmented reality (AR) is effective in enhancing learning-related memory, no studies have verified whether AR can effectively enhance memory of procedural knowledge. In this study, an AR mobile application was used to assist in the teaching of Microsoft Excel by guiding students through steps for performing Excel operations and thereby establishing their procedural knowledge of eight Excel formulas. The objective was to verify whether AR could effectively help students retain memory of procedural knowledge. This empirical study on 68 student participants revealed that students using the AR system retained adequate memory of procedural operations 2 weeks after completing the Excel classes.

It has been shown in numerous studies that the application of Augmented Reality (AR) to teaching and learning is beneficial, but determining the reasons behind its effectiveness, and in particular the characteristics of students for whom an AR is best suited, can bring forth new opportunities to integrate adaptive instruction and AR in the future. Through a quasi-experimental research design, our study recruited 66 participants in an 8-week long AR-assisted learning activity, and lag sequential analysis was used to analyze participants' behavior in an AR learning environment. We found that AR was more effective in enhancing the learning gains in elementary school science of learners who prefer a Kinesthetic approach to learning. We hypothesize that these effects are due to the increase in opportunity for hands-on activities, effectively increasing learners' concentration and passion for learning.