Alison Q. - Article #2

Article #2: Wearable Tech In The Classroom: Taking The Education Industry By Storm

(https://elearningindustry.com/wearable-tech-in-the-classroom-taking-education-industry-storm)

This article provides a more in-depth look at three different wearable technologies and how they might be used in the classroom.  The first technology discussed is virtual reality (VR).  VR systems allow students to explore both current and past environments without having to leave the classroom.  However, VR headsets can be costly and therefore not feasible for all schools.  The article mentions that it may be possible for students to turn their smart phones into VR headsets to lower the cost, or that donors might be willing to sponsor VR sets to classrooms.  Google Expeditions, although  no longer available for use, is discussed in detail.  Through this app, students were able to visit past and present civilizations, including Mars.  While Google Expeditions is gone, it appears that many of the "expeditions" will be available on a separate app.   A second type of technology discussed in this article is smartwatches.  In addition to the health and fitness applications found on smartwatches, students can utilize talk-t0-text technology to aid in note-taking.  Also, similar apps can read parts of books to students, so they can listen, study, and/or complete school work without having to remain in one place.  The final technology discussed in the article is called Muse.  Muse is a headband that tracks brain signals.  According to the article, monitoring students' brain activity can tell teachers when students are focused and when they are not.  With this information, teachers can readily make attempts to re-engage students as needed.  Additionally, students and teachers alike can analyze any patterns found during certain activities.  This could enable teachers to identify activities that captivate students' attention, and can help students understand when they lose focus during a lesson.  

I really liked that this article gives a lot of details about the different types of wearable technology included.  I think the ability for students to visit a past civilization or another planet using VR is just amazing.  I would have loved that when I was a student!  I also think that using talk-to-text technology on a smartwatch is quite useful, especially for secondary students, and it is also pretty discreet.  I had never heard of the Muse headbands before, but I think it could provide a lot of insight and data that would be fascinating to study in conjunction with brain-based learning strategies.  This could also be a useful device to teach students about metacognition, which I think could have benefits for them throughout their lives in any academic setting or situation.