What kids want from robots?
We've been waiting for years (decades, in fact) for robots to become integral parts of our daily lives, but it hasn't quite happened yet. We're getting closer, that's for sure, but it's starting to look like it might be our kids (and not us) who will get the full benefit of the forthcoming robot revolution. With that in mind, Latitude Research has collaborated with with LEGO Learning Institute and Australia's Project Synthesis to compile a study of how children see robots fitting into their lives.
Latitude asked 348 kids between the ages of eight and twelve from Europe, Africa, Australia, and America to write and illustrate a story answering the following question: "What would happen if robots were a part of your everyday life—at school and beyond?” Here's a sample of what the kids would come up with:
Each story was scored based on a variety of variables from relationships to activities, and Latitude took all those data and came up with a bunch of fascinating insights. We've picked out just a couple of these, and you can download the entire report here.
Do Robotic Pool Cleaners Really Work
https://www.robotsden.com/do-robotic-pool-cleaners-really-work
Robots Are Role Models And Nerdiness Is Cool
Although some kids cast their robots in a superhuman or sci-fi mold, many created humanoid peers they could identify with and aspire to be like. Generally, the imagined robots could speak and communicate with ease, came “pre-loaded” with smarts and useful knowledge, and were social naturals. Nearly 2/3 of kids took for granted that robots could make excellent human friends in spite of their machine intelligence—blurring the line between technology and humanness.
Robots’ “machine magnetism” and general likeability doesn’t stem from their novelty. (In fact, kids tell us robots are a lot like us.) It stems from their intelligence; being a nerd is a net positive, not a social stigma, in kids’ story worlds. This is, no doubt, also true in the real world (sans robots) for today’s digital natives—robots simply helped to illuminate what kids value in social scenarios.
A Robot Can Be Your Friend
By and large, kids (64%) described robots as if they were natural, human-like companions: as humanoid peers that could speak and communicate with ease, came “pre-loaded” with smarts and useful knowledge, and were social naturals. While many of us tend to think of robots as boxy and mechanical in appearance, a full 1/3 of kids explicitly described their robots’ physical form as human-like, and 29% bothered to specify that their robots’ primary mode of interaction was speech.
We know from our previous work with kids that they tend to view technology as something fundamentally human (rather than separate from humanness, as many adults perceive it). Not surprisingly, robots tended to be easily assimilated into kids’ existing peer groups. Unlike most kids in the study’s age range, who are starting to deal with social cliques and the complexities of popularity, robots possess an enviable ability to fit in with other kids—to be natural fixtures in peer groups because, not in spite, of their smarts. In other words, being a nerd is a net positive, not a social stigma, in kids’ story worlds. This is, no doubt, also true in the real world (sans robots) for today’s digital natives—robots simply helped to illuminate what kids value in social scenarios.
arduino robot arm source code
https://www.robotsden.com/7-arduino-robotic-arm-project-ideas-tutorial-plus-source-code
Learning and Play Can Be The Same
While one might expect kids to create more stories about play than learning, an equal number (38%) focused on each of these themes. Kids are quick to see learning and play as related, often overlapping, activities, even if their lives are much more compartmentalized in practice (e.g., school, after-school activities, family obligations, etc.).
They recognize that they shouldn’t have to make trade-offs between learning and playing, and tended not to make hard choices between the two in their narratives; instead, kids (with their robots) moved fluidly between learning and play, and oftentimes participated in activities at the intersection of both. On one end of the spectrum, a robot might help a child make a game out of his or her math homework; on the other end, the act of building a fort can become an educational process. In the middle, kids seek to learn either physical or academic skills because doing so is enjoyable in itself.
It's definitely worth checking out the entire report, as Latitude has some suggestions about how technology in general (not just through robotics) can be better used to help kids learn. They've also put a selection of the kids' illustrations up on Flickr here. My own personal favorite picture is definitely this one, but I have a sneaking suspicion that this particular 11 year-old already has some sort of robot helping him to neatly write out words like "holographic projector."
Here are 9 benefits to learn coding with programming robots for kids.
1. Creativity
Coding empowers children to consume digital technology but also be the producers of it. Instead of just playing a game, they can envision making one themselves and even create one.
remote control car with night vision
https://www.robotsden.com/best-remote-control-car-with-night-vision
2. Computational Thinking
By learning to code, children will also learn computational thinking which enables them to develop cognitive skills and learn logical and sequential thought processes. In this way, they will be able to test their code, spot any errors and quickly solve them easily. This can also be applied to other situations and will help students in all areas of life.
3. Collaboration
Coding also encourages collaboration as kids work alongside their peers, regardless of every race, gender and background, as they are joined by a common interest of technology and their project work. Students collaborate with fellow students and share what they learn with their teachers and parents.
4. Communication
Communication is an important skill that is required throughout school, work and life. When kids learn to code, they learn to communicate with technology. This teaches them how to break down complex ideas, arrange and share them.
5. Persistence
Learning to code is a challenge for students as tackling complex problems can be frustrating. Through coding, young students are able to, through persistence, complete the task at hand.
6. Understanding
Students are able to better understand the world around them with programming knowledge. It can change the way they interact with the technologies used daily and can introduce them to new possibilities.
toy robot that blows smoke
https://www.robotsden.com/toy-robot-that-blows-smoke-gifts-to-delight-your-inquisitive-kid
7. Career
Coding provides career advantages as these students have an understanding and enjoyment for STEAM that can take them into many desirable career paths.
8. Logic
Since logical thinking is required for the coding of robots, students are able to formulate step by step sequences to create a desirable outcome. In this way, children are also able to avoid problems by anticipating them, testing, and fixing their code.
9. Algorithmic Thinking
Along with these skills, kids also learn algorithmic thinking which is the ability to define clear steps to solve a problem. It enables kids to solve problems by breaking them down into a step by step procedure.
Latitude asked 348 kids between the ages of eight and twelve from Europe, Africa, Australia, and America to write and illustrate a story answering the following question: "What would happen if robots were a part of your everyday life—at school and beyond?” Here's a sample of what the kids would come up with:
Each story was scored based on a variety of variables from relationships to activities, and Latitude took all those data and came up with a bunch of fascinating insights. We've picked out just a couple of these, and you can download the entire report here.
Do Robotic Pool Cleaners Really Work
https://www.robotsden.com/do-robotic-pool-cleaners-really-work
Robots Are Role Models And Nerdiness Is Cool
Although some kids cast their robots in a superhuman or sci-fi mold, many created humanoid peers they could identify with and aspire to be like. Generally, the imagined robots could speak and communicate with ease, came “pre-loaded” with smarts and useful knowledge, and were social naturals. Nearly 2/3 of kids took for granted that robots could make excellent human friends in spite of their machine intelligence—blurring the line between technology and humanness.
Robots’ “machine magnetism” and general likeability doesn’t stem from their novelty. (In fact, kids tell us robots are a lot like us.) It stems from their intelligence; being a nerd is a net positive, not a social stigma, in kids’ story worlds. This is, no doubt, also true in the real world (sans robots) for today’s digital natives—robots simply helped to illuminate what kids value in social scenarios.
A Robot Can Be Your Friend
By and large, kids (64%) described robots as if they were natural, human-like companions: as humanoid peers that could speak and communicate with ease, came “pre-loaded” with smarts and useful knowledge, and were social naturals. While many of us tend to think of robots as boxy and mechanical in appearance, a full 1/3 of kids explicitly described their robots’ physical form as human-like, and 29% bothered to specify that their robots’ primary mode of interaction was speech.
We know from our previous work with kids that they tend to view technology as something fundamentally human (rather than separate from humanness, as many adults perceive it). Not surprisingly, robots tended to be easily assimilated into kids’ existing peer groups. Unlike most kids in the study’s age range, who are starting to deal with social cliques and the complexities of popularity, robots possess an enviable ability to fit in with other kids—to be natural fixtures in peer groups because, not in spite, of their smarts. In other words, being a nerd is a net positive, not a social stigma, in kids’ story worlds. This is, no doubt, also true in the real world (sans robots) for today’s digital natives—robots simply helped to illuminate what kids value in social scenarios.
arduino robot arm source code
https://www.robotsden.com/7-arduino-robotic-arm-project-ideas-tutorial-plus-source-code
Learning and Play Can Be The Same
While one might expect kids to create more stories about play than learning, an equal number (38%) focused on each of these themes. Kids are quick to see learning and play as related, often overlapping, activities, even if their lives are much more compartmentalized in practice (e.g., school, after-school activities, family obligations, etc.).
They recognize that they shouldn’t have to make trade-offs between learning and playing, and tended not to make hard choices between the two in their narratives; instead, kids (with their robots) moved fluidly between learning and play, and oftentimes participated in activities at the intersection of both. On one end of the spectrum, a robot might help a child make a game out of his or her math homework; on the other end, the act of building a fort can become an educational process. In the middle, kids seek to learn either physical or academic skills because doing so is enjoyable in itself.
It's definitely worth checking out the entire report, as Latitude has some suggestions about how technology in general (not just through robotics) can be better used to help kids learn. They've also put a selection of the kids' illustrations up on Flickr here. My own personal favorite picture is definitely this one, but I have a sneaking suspicion that this particular 11 year-old already has some sort of robot helping him to neatly write out words like "holographic projector."
Here are 9 benefits to learn coding with programming robots for kids.
1. Creativity
Coding empowers children to consume digital technology but also be the producers of it. Instead of just playing a game, they can envision making one themselves and even create one.
remote control car with night vision
https://www.robotsden.com/best-remote-control-car-with-night-vision
2. Computational Thinking
By learning to code, children will also learn computational thinking which enables them to develop cognitive skills and learn logical and sequential thought processes. In this way, they will be able to test their code, spot any errors and quickly solve them easily. This can also be applied to other situations and will help students in all areas of life.
3. Collaboration
Coding also encourages collaboration as kids work alongside their peers, regardless of every race, gender and background, as they are joined by a common interest of technology and their project work. Students collaborate with fellow students and share what they learn with their teachers and parents.
4. Communication
Communication is an important skill that is required throughout school, work and life. When kids learn to code, they learn to communicate with technology. This teaches them how to break down complex ideas, arrange and share them.
5. Persistence
Learning to code is a challenge for students as tackling complex problems can be frustrating. Through coding, young students are able to, through persistence, complete the task at hand.
6. Understanding
Students are able to better understand the world around them with programming knowledge. It can change the way they interact with the technologies used daily and can introduce them to new possibilities.
toy robot that blows smoke
https://www.robotsden.com/toy-robot-that-blows-smoke-gifts-to-delight-your-inquisitive-kid
7. Career
Coding provides career advantages as these students have an understanding and enjoyment for STEAM that can take them into many desirable career paths.
8. Logic
Since logical thinking is required for the coding of robots, students are able to formulate step by step sequences to create a desirable outcome. In this way, children are also able to avoid problems by anticipating them, testing, and fixing their code.
9. Algorithmic Thinking
Along with these skills, kids also learn algorithmic thinking which is the ability to define clear steps to solve a problem. It enables kids to solve problems by breaking them down into a step by step procedure.
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