[ZDNet]

Summary:

An analysis of gesture-based technology and its future role in education. …

What is gesture-based computing?…

Active vs passive learning …

What are the issues associated with this kind of technology?

Gesture computing has potential, but it is also limited in educational use by a wide range of factors. These include:

• Cost benefit vs longevity. By the time a school has the means to, or decides on investing in such technology, new advances are likely to already been developed. Academic institutions have to make decisions about what technology is financially worth investing in, and whether there will be benefits to students — especially as it is possible that new, more innovative technology will be on the market by the time purchases are made.
• Training. Students are often more tech-savvy than their teachers, and if schools choose to invest in new devices or software, they must also invest in their staff and the required knowledge and training to operate and understand it properly.
• The novelty factor. There are many arguments for and against the use of technology that has the potential to distract students — and may be more of a novelty than a quality tool for learning. As such, teachers have to decide the best means to use this kind of technology effectively.
• Feasibility. Students often expect to be able to use technology in class. This often causes issues for schools, and the ability to change school curriculums to accommodate new technology is not necessarily possible. It’s not all about the budget; it can also concern just how limited schools can bein relation to adapting courses in a exam-cramming, time-constricted educational system.

The prediction of the adoption of gesture-based technology in schools within the next two to three years appears to be somewhat idealistic. Student may expect more innovative technology in education, however, the cost-benefit and investment required, especially within the current financial climate, may be too much of a stretch within school budgets. …

See the full story here: http://www.zdnet.com/blog/igeneration/gesture-based-tech-a-future-in-education/15514