Advances in Wearable Sensors for Learning Analytics: Trends, Challenges, and Prospects

Wearable sensor technology is increasingly being integrated into educational settings, offering innovative approaches to enhance teaching and learning experiences. These devices track various physiological and environmental variables, providing valuable insights into student engagement, comprehensio...

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Main Authors: Huaqing Hong, Ling Dai, Xiulin Zheng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Sensors
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/9/2714
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author Huaqing Hong
Ling Dai
Xiulin Zheng
author_facet Huaqing Hong
Ling Dai
Xiulin Zheng
author_sort Huaqing Hong
collection DOAJ
description Wearable sensor technology is increasingly being integrated into educational settings, offering innovative approaches to enhance teaching and learning experiences. These devices track various physiological and environmental variables, providing valuable insights into student engagement, comprehension, and educational environments. However, the extensive and continuous data streams generated by these sensors create significant challenges for learning analytics. This paper presents a comprehensive review of research on learning analytics incorporating wearable technology, systematically identifying methods and approaches that address wearable sensor data challenges. We begin with a systematic review of wearable sensor technologies’ historical development and the current state of sensor data in learning analytics. We then examine multimodal sensor applications in learning analytics and propose research and application trends aligned with educational development needs. Our analysis identifies three key challenges: ethical considerations, explainable learning analytics, and technological and data management issues. The paper concludes by outlining seven future development directions for wearable sensors in educational contexts.
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spelling doaj-art-3477fa495b2248a3b05365e3d1abbb752025-08-20T02:24:58ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202025-04-01259271410.3390/s25092714Advances in Wearable Sensors for Learning Analytics: Trends, Challenges, and ProspectsHuaqing Hong0Ling Dai1Xiulin Zheng2Institute of Language Sciences, Shanghai International Studies University, Shanghai 201620, ChinaFaculty of Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200061, ChinaDepartment of Special Education and Counselling, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, ChinaWearable sensor technology is increasingly being integrated into educational settings, offering innovative approaches to enhance teaching and learning experiences. These devices track various physiological and environmental variables, providing valuable insights into student engagement, comprehension, and educational environments. However, the extensive and continuous data streams generated by these sensors create significant challenges for learning analytics. This paper presents a comprehensive review of research on learning analytics incorporating wearable technology, systematically identifying methods and approaches that address wearable sensor data challenges. We begin with a systematic review of wearable sensor technologies’ historical development and the current state of sensor data in learning analytics. We then examine multimodal sensor applications in learning analytics and propose research and application trends aligned with educational development needs. Our analysis identifies three key challenges: ethical considerations, explainable learning analytics, and technological and data management issues. The paper concludes by outlining seven future development directions for wearable sensors in educational contexts.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/9/2714wearable sensorslearning analyticseducational technologyhuman–computer interactionadaptive learning systems
spellingShingle Huaqing Hong
Ling Dai
Xiulin Zheng
Advances in Wearable Sensors for Learning Analytics: Trends, Challenges, and Prospects
Sensors
wearable sensors
learning analytics
educational technology
human–computer interaction
adaptive learning systems
title Advances in Wearable Sensors for Learning Analytics: Trends, Challenges, and Prospects
title_full Advances in Wearable Sensors for Learning Analytics: Trends, Challenges, and Prospects
title_fullStr Advances in Wearable Sensors for Learning Analytics: Trends, Challenges, and Prospects
title_full_unstemmed Advances in Wearable Sensors for Learning Analytics: Trends, Challenges, and Prospects
title_short Advances in Wearable Sensors for Learning Analytics: Trends, Challenges, and Prospects
title_sort advances in wearable sensors for learning analytics trends challenges and prospects
topic wearable sensors
learning analytics
educational technology
human–computer interaction
adaptive learning systems
url https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/9/2714
work_keys_str_mv AT huaqinghong advancesinwearablesensorsforlearninganalyticstrendschallengesandprospects
AT lingdai advancesinwearablesensorsforlearninganalyticstrendschallengesandprospects
AT xiulinzheng advancesinwearablesensorsforlearninganalyticstrendschallengesandprospects