The Wildflower network of Montessori schools is testing the use of interior location data on children to augment the observational data kept on students by their teachers. Using a system of sensors and video cameras, the schools will attempt to understand more about how children are interacting with others as well as with materials as they construct their own independent learning activities.
The testing process is allowing the schools to understand the potential and the limitations of the system. For example, the regular teacher observations are being used to check on the data gathered by the system, and using the automated data gathering along with a well developed teacher record keeping system will permit an assessment of the value added by applying technology to follow the students. In addition, implementing the system in operating schools is raising issues like privacy, which is already being addressed by limiting access to the data and by processing the video records to substitute stick figures for the students to protect their identities.
With systems to gather data automatically on individuals moving in interior spaces becoming more prevalent, it is encouraging to see an experiment in which such student data collection is being embedded in a set of well-established educational practices.
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