Emerging Technology: Wearable Technologies

Emerging Technology:Wearable Technologies Nick Amonett KSU ITEC 7445

What is Wearable Tech? • Any technology that can be worn by users, taking the form of: • Jewelry • Glasses • Backpack • Clothing and Apparel

Examples • Glasses (Goggle Glass) • Smart Watches (iWatch, Pebble, etc.) • Wearable Cameras (Autographer, GoPro) • Pedometers (FitBit)

Uses of Wearable Tech • Implementation of the wearable glasses would happen for all classes. This would allow: • Students to collaborate with students in different parts of the building • Students to research information while working on a project

Uses of Wearable Tech • Implementation of the wearable smart watches would happen in all classes. This would allow: • Students to easily research material • Students to engage in collaboration more freely throughout the day

Uses of Wearable Tech • Implementation of the wearable cameras would happen in the video production classes. This would allow: • Students to work with cutting edge technology used by professionals • Students to be more creative with their projects, giving them different perspectives • The meeting

Uses of Wearable Tech • Implementation of the wearable pedometers would happen in the P.E. classes. This would allow: • Students to track steps for completion of different requirements • Students to monitor their heart rates as they exercise • Students to see first hand how much exercise impacts their overall health

How Does Wearable Tech Fit in with Technology Plan • Incorporation of wearable technology can help meet the district goal of a 1:1 initiative • Wearable technology gives students access to technology at all times, allowing for students to discover and research at anytime

Stakeholders • Because the technology requires a more advanced understanding of technology, the target population to use this technology would be students in grades 9th to 12th, and teachers • This technology could also be used by teachers to improve communication with students/parents/administration as well as enhance current learning activities

Stakeholders • If used in high school, it could be introduced in the more advanced classes at the middle school level, to let students know what technology will be available at the high school level

Equitable Access • Given that the more advanced classes would likely checkout these devices first, it would be important to ensure that all levels of classes have equal access • This would ensure that there is no student being alienated from using the device due to gender or SES level • Teachers would need to be trained on how to use devices with all levels of students

Equitable Access • In order to use the devices efficiently, especially wearable glasses and watches, it would be better to focus how to use it with special educaiotn and ELL education • Wearable technology can be used as assistive technology, giving a reason to ensure access to special needs students • Wearable technology can be used as a translation devices, giving reason to ensure access to ELL students

Key Benefits • Wearable technology makes technology more accessible to students when the students need the technology • Wearable technology opens the door for more authentic learning and new learning activities • Wearable technology allows students to get a taste of what technology is out there • Technology that will be used when the students graduate from high school

Equipment and Software • Wearable technology would require additional equipment in order to use the technology and its fullest potential • School-wide Wi-Fi is necessary for use of wearable technology for research and collaboration • Some of the wearable pedometers and Wearable smart watches require access to a smart phone to transfer data

Equipment and Software • Wearable Cameras would need computers, adapter cables, and software to transfer images from the device to a computer and work into a project

Equipment and Software • In order to use most wearable technologies, current technology such as Wi-Fi access and computers would need to be updated to incorporate the new technology

Technical Support • Each device provides some level of technical support for the device, but this support would require sending the device back to the retailer for their repair – at cost • Training would have to be provided for Media Specialists and Technology Specialists on how to troubleshoot connection problems and other situations that come up

Technical Support • Along with technical support would come maintenance support. • Since these are first generation, the durability of devices being used my multiple users might be a problem • Sending the equipment back to the vendor to repair will cost shipping and maintenance • School will need to allot funding to help purchase replacement equipment and pay for repairs

Limitations • As stated earlier, some of the wearable technology tools available require use of a smart phone to use at its fullest potential • If students do not have access to smart phone, they might not be able to use key features of the wearable technology

Limitations • Most wearable technology relies on an internet or Bluetooth connection to work correctly • If this is not available for some reason, the device would not work

Limitations • Because these are emerging technologies, some of the elements of the technologies that will best support education are still being worked on

Cost • The cost for most wearable technologies is expensive: • Glasses: $2,000 each • Smart Watches: $80 - $350 each • Wearable Cameras: $250 - $400 each • Pedometers: $30 - $250 each

Cost • Because specialists and teachers need to be trained on how to use the technology, it would cost between $4,000 and $7,000 to cover the trainer or expenses to send someone to be trained in how to use the device • Those who are trained would need to redeliver the information to the rest of the school

Potential Funding • Funding to purchase these technologies would come from grants or local companies to help purchase the more expensive technologies • For inexpensive technologies, such as pedometers, students could “rent” one, which would help provide monies for maintaining the technology and purchase of more

Potential Funding • Funding can come from general fund, state/government programs if used for a specific population, or from business donations

Used to Promote Content Standards • Wearable technology can be used to meet content standards in the core areas through: • Making research more accessible when the students need it • Increasing collaboration between students • Giving students the tools to create more authentic examples of learning

Used to Promote Content Standards • Wearable technology can be used to meet content standards in the career tech and P.E. areas through: • Providing video production students, with wearable cameras, the opportunity to work with professional level technology for more advanced special effects • Providing P.E. students, with wearable pedometers, the equipment to track exercises and create a daily workout

Used to Promote Technology Standards • The use of wearable tech can also help focus on technology standards by: • Giving students the innovative tools to demonstrate creating thinking to create new ideas, products and processes • The ability to communicate and collaborate with students in real time, whether in the same building or not

Used to Promote Technology Standards • The use of wearable tech can also help focus on technology standards by: • Ability to research material at any point, being able to see the relevance more clearly • Understanding and providing examples of understanding digital citizenship through the appropriate use of cameras and devices with capabilities of constant communication.

Used to Promote Technology Standards • The use of wearable tech can also help focus on technology standards by: • Personalized wearable technology would require the students to show a level of understanding of how the device works and how to troubleshoot simple problems, to maintain the wearable tech

Used to Promote Specific Learning Goals • Wearable tech can be a great tool for assistive technology • Providing hands free for students who do not have full access of their arms • Providing a “voice” feature for students to practice verbal speech

Used to Promote Specific Learning Goals • Wearable technology will allow students to adjust and tailor the technology to their style of learning • Wearable technology allows the user to be in control and use the technology to sift through all the information to determine the most important information or processes for the requirement

Used to PromoteDifferentiation • Wearable technology will change the method of teaching, requiring the teacher to be more innovative • Wearable technology will allow for more tailored differentiation, allowing students to seek information on their own and more flexibility with ideas for projects • Students can search for information they need, not requiring a “one size fits all” delivery of information by the teacher

Used to PromoteCommunication • Wearable technology allows for collaboration and communication between students • Wearable technology would allow teachers to quickly and efficiently communicate with parents and students • This is a focus of the current Dalton High School school improvement plan, finding ways to improve teacher/parent communication

Implementation Plan • The best change model to for implementation of wearable technology would be a Cyclical Process Framework. I think this is best because it allows for the focus of clear goals of what is intended through the use of the technology, using as a tool instead of a toy • Would start with a small group (Special Ed. Or ELLs) and as progress is developed within these groups, present to the larger school. • As teachers see progress, they would be more out to incorporate these technologies within their classes, allowing for more small group data

Implementation Plan • The Cyclical Process Framework also allows for the formation of a team of administrators/teachers/technology specialists to create a framework of acceptable use for the technology and process for fair implementation within the school, based on data from the success of the smaller group use • After all of this, the technology would be implemented on a more large scale, allowing for check out by teachers and/or students

Implementation Plan • The first use should be with Special Education and ELL classes, to use directly with specific learning • The best idea would be to only purchase class sets to share and check out • Minimizing cost and increasing the possibility of being able to purchase more wearable technologies • Allow teachers to reserve the technology for a specified amount of time. Ensuring that all teachers who wish to use the technology have access to use the technology

Implementation Plan • Another option is to allow students to check out the different technologies for specific class activity, or to use for a set period of time to experience the use of the new, emerging technology • This would help with equitable access, because stipulations can be placed on duration in order to ensure that all students get the opportunity • Rent fee can be negotiated based on financial position of student

Evaluation of Research • Since wearable technology has only been available to the general public for a short time, there is research on the devices, but not as much on the use in education • Most of the research in education deals with the use of wearable technology at the college level • But, this amount of research is growing as more schools begin to embrace this emerging technology

Evaluation of Research • Wearable technology does not have to be activated directly because it functions as part of the body, gathering data in real time and allowing access 24/7 (Educause, 2013) • The use of wearable technology is a breakthrough in empowering the intellectual power of people, by putting all the information they need in a easily accessible location (America Learning Media, 2014)

Evaluation of Research • Wearable technology has the ability to not only change the way teachers teach, but has the power to change how students learn and and help students achieve an new level of potential (Wearable Technology, 2015) • Many people mention that the biggest hurdle for use of wearable technology is the cost, but most research suggests this will change as more companies began to offer similar technologies, providing a price war – driving prices down

Evaluation of Research • Wearable tech has the ability for more authentic learning through providing virtual fieldtrips through collaboration with other students in other cities/states/countries (Kuranda, 2014)

Reflection • I began this emerging technology assignment not believing that wearable technology really had a place in k-12 learning. After spending time to select and evaluate this technology, I am excited for what the future brings. I learned that, just like with smart boards and tablets, all technology can have a place within the classroom, if the teacher is willing to put forth the effort to adjust the activities to incorporate the technology. Wearable technology allows more freedom with student research, collaboration, and projects and will be a very effective addition.

Reflection • Before moving to the high school, I tried to focus my classroom to incorporate new technologies. We purchased a poster maker to help display student work throughout the TV. I established a TV comedy show, written and produced by students, to give students a chance to experience the decisions and troubles of a professional TV studio. This project will improve and strengthen my practice by refocusing on the importance of emerging technologies within the classroom. Emerging technologies today will be standard technology tomorrow. These new technologies will be common technologies when my students graduate. It is important for teachers to strive to give students access to all technologies that they will be required to use after high school, and I am excited to find ways to incorporate these new technologies in my own classroom

Reflection • I think it is important for teachers to take some time to see what technologies are out there to see that can be used within the classroom. It helps both the teacher and the student. It keeps the teacher fresh and not getting too stagnant and forces the teacher to adjust activities. It helps the student by providing something new to use in school. With the meshing of “Digital Natives” and “Digital Immigrants,” too often the students feel they know more about technology than their teachers. Including new, emerging technologies helps force the “Digital Natives” to always be learning.

Resources • America Learning Media. (2014, June). Retrieved from http://www.americalearningmedia.net/edicion-004/267-innovation/3661-wearables-in-education. • Educause. (2013, November). 7 Things You Should Know About: Wearable Technology. Retrieved from https://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/eli7102.pdf. • ISTE Standards for Students. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/standards/ISTE-standards/standards-for-students.

Resources • Kuranda, S. (2014, July 31). 5 Ways To Use Wearable Devices In Education. Retrieved from http://www.crn.com/slide-shows/components-peripherals/300073560/5-ways-to-use-wearable-devices-in-education.htm/pgno/0/2. • Lam, K. (2014, July 16). Wearable Technology in Education. Retrieved from http://edtechtimes.com/2014/07/16/wearable-technology-education/. • Wearable Technology. (2015). Retrieved from http://horizon.wiki.nmc.org/Wearable Technology?responseToken=03ae570b89246f6416a13103fcdec6d5C.

Emerging Technology: Wearable Technologies