INTRODUCTION

“Our future success is directly proportional to our ability to understand, adopt and integrate new technology into our work.” During the pandemic, technology facilitated both work and learning. Keeping this in mind, the idea of intertwining Robotics in Education #EduRob seems convincing. According to the research by Global Market Insights, Artificial Intelligence in the education market will surpass USD 6 billion by 2024.

A PEEP INTO THE EFFICACY OF ROBOTICS IN EDUCATION

Technology in education, popularly called edtech is the need of the hour.

Audio Visual Media

Robotics can use audiovisual media to impart quality learning. Online learning requires a lot of attention from students and a proper system to deliver on the part of teachers. Therefore, Robotics can also make use of Virtual Facilitators like gesture recognition, 3-D gaming and computer animation to create interactions with students, making learning engaging. Subsequently, gamification tools can make the subject more engaging. Also, Chatbots can address queries by providing tailor-made answers.

Combat the Paradox in Employment

India has witnessed a paradox in employment. Indian recruitment is going through a peculiar phase. Surprisingly, almost 8 million youngsters enter the job market every year; still, companies find it tough to fill vacancies for crucial roles. The main reason for this is the enlarging skill gap. Many times students do not possess the skill set required by companies for crucial roles. Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Robots can help re-skill and up-skill students. Subsequently, Robotics can use AI and predictive analysis to map high demanded skills to boost career prospects.

Streamline admin work and universal access

Teachers have to spend their precious time and energy on admin tasks and paper checking. They can use this time to impart knowledge. Here Robotics comes into play as it can streamline these tasks. Robotics in Education gifts us universal access wherein students belonging to different linguistic communities can learn freely.

Customized Learning

The most fundamental efficacy of Robotics in Education is customized learning. Different students have different problems. Therefore, we require different methodologies to address them. Some students have good grasping power while some learn at a slower pace. Subsequently, AI in Robots can smartly customize learning by giving challenging tasks to fast learners and going at a slower speed for slow learners. It can also communicate with learners, simulating human experiences by voice or hologram.

Catering to differently abled students

Today, we have a plethora of online courses for upgrading skills available. But unfortunately, these courses are unable to cater to the needs of differently-abled students. In such a scenario, Robotics attains prime importance. AI in Robots can create customized lessons to suit the learning needs of differently-abled students as well. During the video conference for Smart India Hackathon, 2019, an engineering student from Dehradun presented her program that could help dyslexic students by utilizing the benefits of AI. Hence, Robotics can unclip the wings of specially-abled children by enabling them to learn the latest skill sets.

A GLANCE AT SOME SUCCESS STORIES

Some counties have already very well amalgamated technology with education. Columbia is running full-time online schools as a substitute for bricks and mortar schools. The schools use digital resources like digital grade books, digital portfolios, learning games and real-time feedback of students. Finland has goodwill as an educational powerhouse, imparting quality learning. It is also known for making the most advanced application of digital technology in formal and extracurricular activities. Finland has successfully used Robotics through humanoid robots and mobile apps. The robots can understand and speak up to 23 languages. The robots can also give feedback to teachers about the problems that students face. Robotics enhances the overall interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) by developing critical thinking skills.

Robotics in E-Learning is not an unexplored arena. Air Force technicians use Intelligent Tutoring Systems like SHERLOCK to detect electrical system problems in aircraft. We can use a similar system in education as well. Another pertinent instance is Duolingo which is one of the most famous apps used for learning foreign languages. Carnegie Learning’s MATHia was awarded the “Best Use of AI in Education”. It is a learning engine that adjusts itself according to the capacity of students.

THE FINAL THOUGHT

Robotics can certainly pave a new path for Education. It provides adaptive learning to help students ace subjects. It would help impart quality education through an engaging methodology.Skill upliftment through a digital medium can provide a flexible approach besides adding shimmer to one’s resume. Today various fields are making optimum use of Robotics. Hence we need to deal with the challenges associated with it. The primary challenge before us is preparing students for this change. We need to instill an understanding that AI would simply complex things while eliminating boundaries in learning. At the same time, one also needs to understand that there are roles requiring creativity, emotional intelligence. Only humans can play these roles well. We ought to bust the myth that utilizing Robotics in various fields would not lead to unemployment.

The purpose of using Robotics in Education is not to replace the existing people but to enhance the quality of Education. Thus the need of the hour is striking a balance and combining both AI and human abilities. Another challenge is that there is a vast need for Research & Development in this field as we are just in the initial phase of usage. Extensive Research and further innovation would ensure successful implementation.

Adapting to changes always seems difficult. But we need to understand that change is the only constant. Therefore, we must be more receptive to it.“Robotics in Education is not meant to eliminate humans but to facilitate them”.