Telepresence robots can bring students who cannot attend school into the classroom in a more immersive manner than video conferencing.
The use of telepresence robots in education might seem new or science fiction-like to some but Dr. Lori Aden has been helping to facilitate students and their telepresence robots for almost a decade.
Aden is the program coordinator for Region 10 Education Service Center, one of 20 regional service centers that support school districts in Texas. She oversees a small fleet of 23 telepresence robots that are deployed as needed to assist students in the region.
These telepresence robots act as avatars for students who cannot attend school long-term for various health or other reasons, providing a more immersive experience than video conferencing via a laptop.
“It puts the control of learning back in the student’s hands,” Aden says. “If there is group work, the child can drive the robot over to the little group. If the teacher moved over to the other side of the classroom, the laptop was gonna stay one direction unless another person moves it. [With the robot] the child can actually just twist and turn and drive the robot.”
Credited Source
Tech & Learning / Erik Ofgang
