MEET REMOTE LEARNING ROBOTS
THE year 2020 was tumultuous for most students, but remote learning – and social isolation – is an ongoing reality for thousands of sick children around the country.
Associate Professor Petrea Redmond, an education technology expert at the University of Southern Queensland, has joined a collaborative research effort to explore how robots can help overcome educational and social disadvantages faced by sick children.
She joins UNSW Medicine and Kids Cancer Centre to contribute to not-for-profit organisation MissingSchool in its important work to give children a chance to be seen, heard and even move in their classroom again with the help of a telepresence robot service.
The robots used by MissingSchool’s “See-Be” service look like electronic tablets on a stem with wheels and can be directed from home or hospital to move around the classroom or playground via an electronic device.
CEO and co-founder Megan Gilmour said unlike other video conferencing technology, the students actually had control of the robot – they could exercise their agency moving the robot around the classroom space.
“They can dial-in to their robot and be seen and heard, take their lessons in real time with their classmates, interact socially, and engage in social activities with their classmates and friends,” Ms Gilmour said.
The See-Be robot service was
developed in 2017 by the not-forprofit organisation MissingSchool with the help of the St George Foundation and offered to students facing all types of serious illness across Australia.
Those interested in getting involved can register their interest via the MissingSchool website.