A robot has been developed to teach kids of all ages the
coding.
The robot named Root looks just like a smoke detector but is
actually a sophisticated robot. A magnetic surface, wheels, and an impressive
arsenal of sensors allow it to navigate a classroom whiteboard. But Root isn't
actually programed to do anything. Its tasks and functionality lies on a
child's imagination.
The robot is capable of driving and drawing as well as
playing music, but Root needs instructions to operate, a line of code. Zivthan
Dubrovsky of Harvard's Wyss Institute recalls testing out Root with kids for
the first time.
Using a tablet connected wirelessly to the robot, level one
introduces kids to the principles of programing using an interface of simple
commands and pictures. As they become more adept, they jump to levels 2 and 3,
at which point writing computer code becomes second nature, according to
Dubrovsky.
The team hopes to partner up with education companies to
develop curriculums based around Root with the hopes of enticing schools to add
the robot to classrooms.
"By adding a robot into the classroom you are actually
adding a third agent into the classroom and you enable a new interesting way of
teaching where the students can become the teachers, teaching the robot to do
things," Dubrovsky said. While at the same time learning a new skill, one
that is increasingly important in a digital world where knowing how to code
could become just as important as knowing to read and write.
