There is a growing body of scholarly research suggesting that, when used properly, social media can boost both learning outcomes and student engagement. The key phrase in that sentence is “when used properly.” The problem is that research in this area is still relatively limited, and most of what is being done in classrooms is experimental. No one has figured out definitively what does and does not work.
Kids Want Robot Teachers, Says Lego-Funded Study:
The survey was built around asking 350 “kid-innovators” aged eight to 12 how things would change if robots were part of their everyday lives. The results indicate that children have a very human view of robots.
Instead of machines that get tasks done for them, these digital natives see robots as ideal humans, able to help them at various tasks and make them feel comfortable socially.
“Robots are better versions of our teachers and parents, offering limitless time and patience, encouraging confidence and self-direction, and allowing us to make mistakes sans self-consciousness,” according to the study.
In addition, the study’s authors argue that robots can help remove any social stigma related learning at school. Perhaps the most common type of robot used today for education is Lego’s Mindstorm which teaches children how to program the device’s sensors and motion. The pictures students in the study drew were commonly of humanoid robots that act as companions to children’s daily lives, alternating between play companion and homework helper.
(via Reading, writing, arithmetic, and…robots? | Cutting Edge - CNET News)
