What robots can teach us about learning

Photo: Laura Devaney



Laura Devaney, Managing Editor writes, "Can robots help educators better instruct and engage students? Yes, according to a new study that asked children for their drawings and stories about robots inside and outside of school. Check out our story for the fascinating results."

It’s common knowledge that many kids love the idea of robots, but does asking them to describe their dream robots lead to useful insight into how kids learn? According to a new study, the way kids view robotics can help schools design better 21^st-century lessons and create more productive classrooms.

Download the full report (PDF)

The study, titled “Robots @School,” was conducted by international research consultancy Latitude, and it asked children across the world to write and illustrate a short story answering this question: “What if robots were a part of your everyday life—at school and beyond?”

The goal, said Latitude reps, was to provide educators, entrepreneurs, technologists, and interactive content creators with insights about the close relationship between learning and play for today’s children, to “identify common frustrations in the learning process, and to suggest possible solutions—both high- and low-tech.”

While it includes some young students’ very cute robot drawings, the study also reveals a potential shift in kids’ “social and learning psychologies.”
Read more...

Related link
http://latd.com/2012/01/16/robots-at-school-findings/

Source: eSchool News