It used to be that writers such as H.G. Wells held the market for Science Fiction, but sometimes these classic futuristic stories don't seem quite as "fictional" as they once were: enter, the real world of robots. Automated machinery in assembly lines has existed for decades, but new advancements in the fields of computers and robotics make these intelligent machines nearly ready to be marketed for private use. Educators have some very real possibilities to look forward to, especially as libraries across the country start to invest in Makerspaces with 3D printers (a very neat kind of robot!).
Art classes used to focus on a student's skills with paint and mediums such as clay, but 3D printers allow students to create computer-generated artistic designs, a practical application that could prepare students for fields in special or visual effects, engineering, or programming. The same applications exist for students in science or computer classes.
I also like to imagine a library where a robot can have a brief exchange with a student, then be able to recommend a book and take the student to the appropriate place on the shelves or request the book through an interlibrary loan. Such engaging and new technologies might be exactly what it takes to get reticent readers suddenly interested in the process of selecting books to read. Note that these robots would not be replacing school librarians, but could supplement a human's knowledge and experiences with a database of thousands of book options.
There are some pretty obvious applications for robots and coding in computer classes, because instead of just writing code students could test and "see" their coding and evaluate its success. My mind is taking me to some somewhat unrealistic places here, but what if English students could program a robot to act out a Shakespearean monologue?
Ubiquitous access to these technologies is still years in the future, but it's worth bringing to the attention of educators who might be able to petition for funds or at least keep in mind what the future could bring to their students.
Hey Rebecca, I love your thoughts on using a robot as a way to help recommend books to students. That would be such a fun way for students to learn about what is in the library. I also like the idea of having a robot act out a Shakespeare monologue...that would be so fun and I think students would actually like Shakespeare hearing it from such a unique source (gasp!).
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