Abstract:

Over the past five years, the use of wearable technologies has increased markedly in K-12 classrooms. While clear benefits of using wearable technologies have been observed for both students and teachers, a number of practical issues have also been noted that ultimately might undermine their use. In this literature review, we conducted a systematic analysis of practical issues associated with the use of wearable technologies in K-12 classrooms. A PRISMA approach was used in conjunction with a thematic narrative analysis to analyze 20 peer-reviewed articles from 2013-2019. Five themes emerged from the review, including the cost of wearable devices, security and legal issues, data analysis, data ownership, and design. We found that primary and maintenance costs of wearable devices are potentially prohibitive for K-12 schools. Furthermore, the security and privacy of personal data collected from wearable technologies can be compromised, putting K-12 students at risk. Additionally, social bias, excessive reliance on numerical data, and quality of the data analyzed from wearable devices could reduce overall learning effectiveness. Moreover, ownership of data collected was uncertain, with commercial interests possibly overriding students' rights and needs. Also, the physical design of wearable devices, including the accuracy of sensors and the delivery of data, could inhibit learning and increase stress. Finally, suggestions for further research and administrative initiatives are provided.

Keywords:

Wearables, wearable devices, K-12, classrooms, privacy, security.