Challenges and Opportunities for Multi-Device Management in Classrooms

Orchestrating digital devices in classrooms is challenging. We conducted an observational study to understand how teachers manage multi-device classrooms involving tablets, computers, and video-projectors. Two categories of device management tasks stand out: content sharing and remote control. Based on our observations, we identify 17 multi-device management tasks that are important to teachers in this specific device configuration. We conducted a second study to investigate how teachers could perform these tasks with the help of a smartwatch. For remote control tasks, participants preferred smartwatches to interact from a distance, whereas for content-sharing tasks, they preferred to interact directly with the devices displaying the content. We outline design opportunities for multi-device management controls in learning environments, and challenges for HCI research on classroom orchestration.