Preschool teachers in one Massachusetts community north of Boston have a rather unique teachers aid in the classroom these days: small, interactive robots designed specifically to help students with special needs unlock their greater learning potential. The children at the Shawsheen preschool in Andover are becoming quick friends, and more importantly a quicker study, with a robot named “Kebbi.”By using integrated intelligence, the pint-sized interactive teachers aides have been developed to help children on the Autism spectrum and other special needs. Rachel Barrett is a speech and language pathologist at Shawsheen. She says as an educator, she’s excited to see her students excited and engaged in the learning process.”I was really intrigued about all of the different ways that we may be able to use it,” Barrett said. “We’re learning basic foundational skills in pre-school, so it’s really great to see them maybe say their first hello or say their first goodbye and just engage them in those activities,” she said.Shawsheen is the first preschool in Massachusetts to use the robot-assisted instruction systems. With lessons developed by the teachers themselves, Kebbi has the ability to help remove barriers to learning. “First of all, the robot, they’re not judgmental,” Jean-Pierre Bolat, the CEO of MOVIA Robotics said. “There’s no preconceived bias between the child and the robot. They’re attracted to this technology. So it opens up a lot of doors for these kids to greater learning.””It’s really about engagement with students and being responsive to the needs of students, our special needs students, so I think that’s probably the most amazing part,” said Dr. Magda Parvey, the superintendent of Andover Public Schools.The ongoing trial program will expand in the Andover School District. The district hopes that by the beginning of the next school year, they’ll have more of the robots in more classrooms to help more students.
Preschool teachers in one Massachusetts community north of Boston have a rather unique teachers aid in the classroom these days: small, interactive robots designed specifically to help students with special needs unlock their greater learning potential.
The children at the Shawsheen preschool in Andover are becoming quick friends, and more importantly a quicker study, with a robot named “Kebbi.”
By using integrated intelligence, the pint-sized interactive teachers aides have been developed to help children on the Autism spectrum and other special needs.
Rachel Barrett is a speech and language pathologist at Shawsheen. She says as an educator, she’s excited to see her students excited and engaged in the learning process.
“I was really intrigued about all of the different ways that we may be able to use it,” Barrett said.
“We’re learning basic foundational skills in pre-school, so it’s really great to see them maybe say their first hello or say their first goodbye and just engage them in those activities,” she said.
Shawsheen is the first preschool in Massachusetts to use the robot-assisted instruction systems.
With lessons developed by the teachers themselves, Kebbi has the ability to help remove barriers to learning.
“First of all, the robot, they’re not judgmental,” Jean-Pierre Bolat, the CEO of MOVIA Robotics said. “There’s no preconceived bias between the child and the robot. They’re attracted to this technology. So it opens up a lot of doors for these kids to greater learning.”
“It’s really about engagement with students and being responsive to the needs of students, our special needs students, so I think that’s probably the most amazing part,” said Dr. Magda Parvey, the superintendent of Andover Public Schools.
The ongoing trial program will expand in the Andover School District.
The district hopes that by the beginning of the next school year, they’ll have more of the robots in more classrooms to help more students.
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