Microsoft Kinect in classrooms

"Microsoft is interested in taking a partnership journey with the state in learning about how it is we can use cutting edge technologies to radically transform how people learn and think."  - Allyson Knox, Microsoft

The Oregon House Interim Committee on Education held a Salem hearing “Presentations on Utilizing Technology in the Classrooms” on 9/12/12. I covered the first presentation about the Canby School District’s use of technology here. The second presentation concerned the use of Microsoft’s Kinect in the classroom. Allyson Knox made the brief presentation and showed a video.

Knox said:

Microsoft is interested in taking a partnership journey with the state in learning about how it is we can use cutting edge technologies to radically transform how people learn and think.

And:

Some of these technologies, similar to tose my collegues just shared, we don't know how they will impact the needs of learners, special education learners, etc., and why we need to broker public-private partnerships at the state level to ensure that teachers and students share the opportunities to do the kind of  R and D that my colleges just shared, so thjat we all learn together.

From Wikipedia (here):
 

Kinect is a motion sensing input device by Microsoft for the Xbox 360 video game console and Windows PCs. Based around a webcam-style add-on peripheral for the Xbox 360 console, it enables users to control and interact with the Xbox 360 without the need to touch a game controller, through a natural user interface using gestures and spoken commands.

I do not know if or where Kinect may be in use in Oregon classrooms. Nor could I find which video was shown to the committee, but here are several videos of the uses of  Kinect in education.

 

 

 

Comments

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I think all this technology can be an incredible tool for current and future students. Children at incredibly young ages are able to participate in hands-on learning that incorporates audio, visual, and some kinesthetic learning. In terms of saving money by not having to buy textbooks I also think that this could in the long run provide a cost savings for schools, while also providing amazing learning opportunities for students.