For quite a few children, language learning and development have always been rather boring subjects. They are too full of technical details to be exciting or fun. For years, teachers have tried various strategies to encourage excitement about learning; however, it’s been proven time and time again that the best way to cultivate this excitement is by using robots.
The fact is, robots are naturally exciting and fun for children – of all ages. When they think about robotics, they likely conjure up images of their favorite superheroes or cartoons. When students discover they can actually use robots themselves, it’s a great way to incorporate learning into the curriculum without the students’ losing interest.
Today, the use of robotics is on the rise. Allowing children – even at a young age – to learn how robots work can have quite a few advantages for them. This not only provides a head start in subjects such as language, development and computer programming, it can also help to spark interest in new careers the kids may have never thought about before.
Robots Can Teach Much More than Tech Skills
The majority of robots are associated with learning-related and technology fields. But, being able to play with robots has a number of educational benefits besides learning how to build and program them. In fact, robots can help children develop better problem-solving skills and help students work together toward a common goal.
Today, one of the most common uses for robots is the concept of problem-based learning. With this learning model, a student is presented with some type of problem they have to solve. Rather than following the teacher’s directions, a student has to find their own solution. This helps to inspire cooperation, critical thinking and creativity – which are all crucial skills to have to compete in the 21st century.
By placing a robot amidst a group of students and requesting that they have the robot complete a task (such as picking up a pencil) is a great demonstration of problem-based learning. The students will be excited about the opportunity to actually play with a robot, and they won’t even pay attention to the fact they are learning.
Assistance for Students with Disabilities
Modern robots aren’t just for the tech-savvy kids who are looking for a challenge. Learning and even just playing with robots can provide additional benefits for students who have some type of disability. Particularly, students who suffer from autism can be extremely responsive to a robot, even more so than they are to any human being, in some cases.
What Type of Robots Can Children Use?
There are several uses robots in today’s classrooms. Even Harvard University has gotten in on this, having created a robot for children back in 2014. Today, robots are more advanced and much more capable of complex tasks than just a few years ago.
The fact is, robots are slowly becoming a bigger and bigger part of day-to-day life as time progresses. The use of robots in the classroom for young children offers a wide array of benefits that will not only help children today, but also as they grow and build careers for themselves. As you can see, robots aren’t just for adults – they have real, practical uses for children, too.
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