How wearables, AR, and VR help students to develop SEL skills (part 2)

The digital depth spectrum can be applied to learning design by helping educators think through how different levels of digital depth and their associated technologies might support learning by considering questions such as:

• How might enhanced physical spaces and personal feedback provided by wearables help cultivate students’ self-knowledge and agency and support their academic performance?
• How might hybrid spaces support students’ understanding of complex concepts?
• How might experiences that enable the immersion and embodiment offered by hybrid and fully digital spaces support the development of perspective taking, empathy, and social-emotional skills?

Educators can also use the digital depth spectrum as they consider how to use wearables, AR, and VR beyond lesson design by considering questions such as:

• How might different levels of digital depth help extend or leverage the contributions of educators in your setting?
• How might hybrid or full digital spaces be used to provide access to human resources (experts, professional practitioners, or specialist teachers) that would otherwise be inaccessible?
• What kinds of physical resources might be enhanced or simulated with digital depth technologies?

As wearables, AR, and VR are used more and more for learning, it will be increasingly important for educators to see past the hype. By assessing the potential uses of these technologies, educators can leverage them to help create responsive learning environments for the learners whom they serve. To explore further, download Leveraging Digital Depth for Responsive Learning Environments: Future Prospects for Wearables, Augmented Reality, and Virtual Reality or the accompanying poster.