ADCET Panel Session: Wearable AI in Learning Environments - Risks and Opportunities

Tue 18 Aug 2026 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm AEST

Online

Event details

This panel session will open a conversation on the practical implications of smart glasses and other wearable technologies in tertiary education, including accessibility, student engagement, privacy, and institutional trust.

As smart glasses and AI-enabled wearables become more visible in the community, they are prompting debate about their appropriate use in different settings. How does this translate to an educational context, and what does it mean? Can we still detect and ban AI wearables in an exam context? How do we protect students’ rights to use AI wearables as their preferred assistive technology? What do wearables on campus mean for privacy, trust and protecting those who are most vulnerable to surveillance?

Featuring a variety of perspectives from a cybersecurity expert, an optometrist and learning spaces researcher and an inclusive education academic, the panel will unpack what it means to build a future campus where innovation supports safety, inclusion and meaningful learning.

Audience: Students and staff in higher education and VET

Facilitator

Darren Britten is the National Assistive Technology Officer with ADCET and has been involved in inclusive practice and accessible resource development in the tertiary sector for over two decades. Darren has been active in designing and developing learning objects for online learning, providing advice and training to academic and professional staff on digital equity and accessibility and working directly with students and staff on improving educational outcomes through the use of assistive and emerging technologies.

Panellists

Dr Amanda Edgar is a Senior Lecturer at Deakin University and an award-winning clinical optometrist. She chairs the Campus Learning Spaces Working Group, leading projects that enhance student participation and success at scale. Amanda’s research on inclusion in higher and health professions education has a particular interest in improving digital and physical learning environments. Her work has received international recognition, including the QS Reimagine Education Award and an AAUT Citation for student support. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, Amanda contributes to sector-wide innovation and regularly shares her expertise at national and international forums.

Dr Fariha Jaigirdar is a cybersecurity researcher and educator whose work focuses on cyber risks, cyber-attacks, Cybersecurity in AI, policy, governance, and digital inclusion. She is passionate about advancing trust in technology and mentoring the next generation of IT professionals. Recognised as one of Science & Technology Australia’s Superstars of STEM, she also serves as Academic Director for Diversity and Inclusion at Deakin University, where she leads initiatives to create equitable and future-focused learning environments and making cybersafe workforce.

Sue Sharpe is the Lecturer of Artificial Intelligence and Inclusive Education at Deakin University, where she leads academic development initiatives with a strong equity focus. Her work addresses emerging challenges in higher education, including assessment reform in the age of generative, agentic and wearable AI. Sue has a pragmatic approach to inclusion, grounded in over 15 years’ experience in higher education, both inside and outside the classroom. She has held roles spanning professional, academic and leadership spaces. Her leadership in curriculum renewal and academic capability-building has driven improvements in student retention and engagement.

The webinar is free to attend, and it will be live-captioned.

Registrations for this webinar are now open

Webinar Connection Info

ADCET webinars use Zoom. In order to participate you will need to have access to the Zoom platform.

• Download and create a free account at Zoom
• How to attend a Zoom event and use audience controls
• Accessibility features in Zoom

ADCET is hosted by the University of Tasmania

Contact details

Event website
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_maVGv9pnRI6YxJpLOWbB3g

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