livescience.com— Social robots are being used on an experimental basis already to teach various skills to preschool children, including the names of colors, new vocabulary words and simple songs.
Jul 16, 2009View in Crawl 4
Not really a fair comparison:Hours spent watching films in school: ~20Hours spent listening to a teacher: ~20000That said, I think that if it's done right, multimedia-based learning could revolutionise education.Done right = engaging, interactive, varied, and feedback-based etc.
Personally I think that robot teachers are a really bad idea at any stage. Maybe after we get to the point where robots are everywhere (like computers are now) it might not be a big deal. But let's start with robots in the workplace and other places such as prisons first. I think that big robot prison guards would be pretty cool. No one cares if they are nurturing or caring.
I wouldn't say that, robots will replace just about everyone eventually. Right now its just people in manual labour jobs, but they will start to take some more skill required jobs and eventually the ones that most people couldn't see not being done by a person.They will also likly do it better than any person would. People have very set ideas about what some technologies are and how they work, robots are one of the main ones since people see things like Robbie the robot on TV and all those human looking robots that just look extreemly bizare.Of course by then many of us might be robots ourselfs (or I guess androids, or mind uploads).With that said I'm guessing school teachers will have quite some time left. I would however predict that we could see many lessons replaced with videos instead of the teachers doing it. Teachers will then be there to answer questions or simply to ensure students don't misbehave and do work.The main problem with this approcah will be that teachers will not understand the subject as well since they no longer have to make lesson plans and students won't really beable to interupt the video (unless you give everyone a pause button so they can as a question), but on the flip side the video can be the best one avilable from the best teacher out of those in the entire school system. Students could also watch the video online when they want, although they will probably have to view it in school to ensure they do watch it, it would also aid home schooling sicne the parents can just ensure their child watches the video.Of course if the system it done right then students can be encouraged to learn from birth rather than seeing school as some kind of chore. Start the videos when the kids are young to get them used to them. Jazz up the system somewhat, have some kind of point system like XP from games that translates into something like a virtual character than students can spend the points on or something. Maybe give real life prizes. Social networking components so students can work on stuff together. Less learning facts by route and more learning how to research needed information.
I read this thinking that it was meant to be "tongue in cheek". On closer inspection, the author seems to believe this is an actual possibility. The article mentions that social robots will teach "names of colors, new vocabulary words and simple songs"? Try some websites that already exist today that do all of those things (and more). And save the money on buying robots. Bottom line is that technology CAN be used in the education process and it has an critical role to fill in our schools. However technology will not likely take on the role of classroom teacher!
Closed AccountJul 18, 2009
Not really a fair comparison:Hours spent watching films in school: ~20Hours spent listening to a teacher: ~20000That said, I think that if it's done right, multimedia-based learning could revolutionise education.Done right = engaging, interactive, varied, and feedback-based etc.
Closed AccountJul 18, 2009
How exactly would these robots provide discipline, mentor, guidance, etc. There's more to teaching than the books!
diggydougieJul 18, 2009
Personally I think that robot teachers are a really bad idea at any stage. Maybe after we get to the point where robots are everywhere (like computers are now) it might not be a big deal. But let's start with robots in the workplace and other places such as prisons first. I think that big robot prison guards would be pretty cool. No one cares if they are nurturing or caring.
culytJul 18, 2009
I wouldn't say that, robots will replace just about everyone eventually. Right now its just people in manual labour jobs, but they will start to take some more skill required jobs and eventually the ones that most people couldn't see not being done by a person.They will also likly do it better than any person would. People have very set ideas about what some technologies are and how they work, robots are one of the main ones since people see things like Robbie the robot on TV and all those human looking robots that just look extreemly bizare.Of course by then many of us might be robots ourselfs (or I guess androids, or mind uploads).With that said I'm guessing school teachers will have quite some time left. I would however predict that we could see many lessons replaced with videos instead of the teachers doing it. Teachers will then be there to answer questions or simply to ensure students don't misbehave and do work.The main problem with this approcah will be that teachers will not understand the subject as well since they no longer have to make lesson plans and students won't really beable to interupt the video (unless you give everyone a pause button so they can as a question), but on the flip side the video can be the best one avilable from the best teacher out of those in the entire school system. Students could also watch the video online when they want, although they will probably have to view it in school to ensure they do watch it, it would also aid home schooling sicne the parents can just ensure their child watches the video.Of course if the system it done right then students can be encouraged to learn from birth rather than seeing school as some kind of chore. Start the videos when the kids are young to get them used to them. Jazz up the system somewhat, have some kind of point system like XP from games that translates into something like a virtual character than students can spend the points on or something. Maybe give real life prizes. Social networking components so students can work on stuff together. Less learning facts by route and more learning how to research needed information.
kaidovakJul 18, 2009
They're only the hell years if a teacher has no enthusiasm, motivation, or skill.If the kids are apathetic, methods need to change.
wilkingsJul 18, 2009
WHAT WILL HISTORY MAJORS DO NOW?!?!?!?!?!
k12leadershipJul 25, 2009
I read this thinking that it was meant to be "tongue in cheek". On closer inspection, the author seems to believe this is an actual possibility. The article mentions that social robots will teach "names of colors, new vocabulary words and simple songs"? Try some websites that already exist today that do all of those things (and more). And save the money on buying robots. Bottom line is that technology CAN be used in the education process and it has an critical role to fill in our schools. However technology will not likely take on the role of classroom teacher!
martinjjshuFeb 8, 2010
Robots will never replace teachers, but as AI becomes perfected you may see Educational Avatars come into place.