Dive Brief:
- In a recent survey, many IT leaders in K-12 schools and higher education said in the next 1-2 years, schools utilizing devices connected via the "Internet of Things" could transform learning environments.
- Extreme Networks, the company behind the survey, spoke with 600 IT leaders to gauge attitudes around the capacity of smart schools to go beyond traditional interactive classroom technologies, such as using wearables and other devices.
- The survey also found an increased use of robots and schools using virtual reality and 3-D printers, which have been shown to help increase student engagement.
Dive Insight:
Research from the New Media Consortium recently found that wearable tech devices may become commonplace in K-12 classrooms within four years, and Google Cardboard’s virtual field trip software, Expeditions, is now being tested in the U.S. and abroad. Students with disabilities may benefit from sensory-based learning facilitated by wearables, particularly those who struggle with focusing on lectures and reading.
Still, when it comes to the Internet of Things, many districts admit to a lack of readiness. The concept undergirding the premise is that a multitude of objects ranging from watches and phones to thermostats and refrigerators can connect to the web. eSchool News previously provided a checklist of what district administrators should do to meet the demands of more connected devices in and around schools.
