This article by Benedict Carey and John Markoff discusses the use of robots in classes with children, including language classes. Will robots be our new teaching assistants?
"Students, meet your new teacher, Mr. Robot"
Another article by Randall Stross discusses the surprising educational outcomes related to home computer use by underpriveleged children. The technology hindered rather than helped in their education.
"Computers at Home: Educational Hope vs. Teenage Reality"
Dear Janet,
ReplyDeleteThese were certainly interesting readings. One might say that if a robot can simply do as well as a (mediocre) human teacher, that might encourage humans to work harder in order to be better teachers. It's not much of a surprise that an interactive technology like a robot might do better at encouraging beginning vocabulary learning than a tape (I am not an aural learner, and I don't like learning from tapes myself). I'd certainly like to see larger-scale studies, too.
The article about computers at home was another example of the basic tenet that the technology isn't what makes a difference, it's how the technology is used. If you use a computer like a toy, it distracts like a toy. If you use it to learn, it can be a great teacher.
Thanks for sharing those!
Yours,
Deborah