Smarter Learning with Smart Glasses? Here’s What Educators Need to Know

In this digital age, there’s no escaping the use of software and devices in our daily routines. For students and learners, digital technologies have become a crucial part of their education, helping with research and study. Even educators are turning to digital solutions to make learning more engaging and efficient. 

A Frontiers in Education study on wearable technologies for learning explored the potential of wearables in education. Aside from the convenience of using technology to access learning, researchers noted that wearable technologies may have the potential to address lifelong learning.

Researchers also note that wearable technologies can help expand learning settings for learners and educators alike. Instead of being restricted to formal settings like classrooms and lecture halls, wearable tech allows students and learners to access study materials from the comfort of their homes or anywhere else in the world.

Among the many forms of wearable technologies available today, smart glasses have become increasingly popular. 

Today, smart glasses serve various purposes across different fields and industries. Many of the features introduced in modern smart glasses are also highly transferable to educational use. Below, we’ll take a closer look at what smart glasses are and how they can help students and learners:

What are smart glasses?

Smart glasses are wearable devices designed to look like conventional eyeglasses. Of course, this basic definition may seem like a stretch, considering how some other smart glasses look today. Still, smart glasses retain the shape and feel of an eyewear tool with the inclusion of technological integrations built into their design. As mentioned above, smart glasses take on various designs and functions today.

In 2023, tech giant Meta and iconic eyewear brand Ray-Ban announced their Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses — a successor to the earlier Ray-Ban Stories smart eyewear line. They come with a host of hardware and software upgrades, from better built-in cameras and microphones to the introduction of the Meta AI assistant, built into the glasses frames. Today, the Ray-Ban Meta is available in various colorways and in familiar Ray-Ban silhouettes such as the Meta Wayfarer, Meta Headliner, and Meta Skyler. While not necessarily marketed for educational use, the Ray-Ban Meta’s features, such as image and video capture, can help learners document relevant and useful new information on the go. The built-in Meta AI assistant is also useful for getting definitions, explanations, and summaries when learning new subject matters.

Now that we’ve seen what smart glasses are designed to do, we’ll take a look at how it can benefit students and learners:

Boosting accessibility to education

As mentioned in our introduction, wearable technologies like smart glasses allow learners to access study materials and files anywhere they want instead of being present in formal settings, such as classrooms. The proliferation of smart glasses can help ensure learners stay connected to educators and their peers without having to be glued to their smartphones or computer devices.

Of course, staying connected isn’t the only way smart glasses can help. The new XRAI AR glasses are designed to meet the needs of the global deaf and hard-of-hearing community. Thanks to its precise sound capture system, the glasses allow AI-driven subtitle generation in real time for things like conversations the wearer sees. This state-of-the-art technology ensures that learners with hearing issues can still keep up and engage with lessons.

Making learning engaging

Using smart glasses in education can also mean an easier and more immersive way for learners to access visual file formats, whether educational documentaries, PowerPoint slides, or infographics and animations on new subjects.

Visual learning has been shown to improve memory retention and comprehension among students, as well as boost learner engagement. Some newer smart glasses can also facilitate interactive learning materials, such as 3D renders of biology diagrams that can be spun around or zoomed into for more detail. This can ensure a more engaging and exciting way for students to learn.

Ultimately, new technologies like smart glasses can go a long way in boosting students’ and learners’ potential. Educators already using digital solutions to enhance learning opportunities, should consider the impact of smart eyewear technologies in education. Teaching methods should adapt and accommodate in innovative ways in order for students to access classes and materials.

If you found this post useful or insightful, you may like our previous post on how to help kids with smartphones and social media. In the post, we discuss how to ensure children aren’t subject to heavy smartphone and social media use and its potential negative effects while still embracing the positives of using technology to boost learning.

 

Read more articles on technology trends and STEAM topics on our Zealousness blog STEAM – iN Education Inc. (ineducationonline.org).

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