After watching the video on the Google Glass homepage showing how it enhances teaching and learning online I started to understand how it is useful to online teachers. This technology was able to take an online group of students around the world on a virtual field trip. At first this may sound like something that could have been achieved by simply watching a video on the place visited, however it is not. With Google Glass the wearer was able to show specific items and places while answering specific, real time questions from his students back home. Imagine real time learning that is not confined to a home base such as a desktop or laptop and using such programs as Collaborate? What the wearer sees is what the students see. The students can also direct the wearer to explore a particular area they are interested in and want to see more of. Now you may be thinking that this sounds a lot like Skype or Face time, but this is where it differs…
Google Glass can also share and display facts about relevant pieces that are being viewed. So while students are on a virtual field trip, taking in the sights, listening to the guide giving a tour they can also be reading the facts popping up that are not being shared by the guide. I imagine something like a scroll during a newscast that shares breaking news.
This type of wearable technology would be amazing to a student that is hospitalized or homebound. Imagine attending field trips with your class while you are out of commission? Or even simply not missing out on key lessons in a f2f class while you are home sick? Teachers, both f2f and online would be able to offer their students so many more opportunities for learning and exploration through the use of Google Glass.
One of my favourite things that Google Glass can allow students to do is send questions via text SMS to Google Glass. This is amazing for those too shy to ask questions. I was one of those students in my grade school years and this would have allowed me to have a voice.
So while these are just a few of the very cool aspects of Google Glass there are many more and I’m sure many more that have not even been discovered yet. I guess the only obstacle in using Google Glass would be the difficult task of getting a pair. One must submit an application to “Google Glass Explorer Program” to then wait for a buyers code to purchase them. Then there is the price; at $1500 USD they are less attainable for school districts as well as a teacher purchasing them with their own money. I look forward to seeing how far Google Glass has come in a few years and if it really does change teaching and learning in a positive and influential manner.