English+E-learning-->+Nataline+(06)



** E- LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET ** // Topic: Is it a good idea to use avatars to replace humans as teachers in schools? // Perform a quick research on the functions and abilities of avatars. Based on the information you have found, consider whether these functions are sufficient to meet the skills and abilities required of a teacher in schools. Are there any areas where avatars are unable to replace humans as teachers? (10-15 mins) Finally, write down __what you think__ are the advantages and disadvantages of using avatars as teachers. (15 mins) 1. ** Robots as an embodied, multi-modal technology have great potential to be used as a new type of communication device. **** Robots allow for the combination of many different modalities of sensing. A robot can see through its vision system, hear through a set of microphones, and even sense touch through a sensitive skin system. **
 * Advantages : **

Examples/evidence ** : **** For example, the robot is used for social communication between family members who are separated by great distances, such as grandparents who live far from their grandchildren, a child who is sick in a hospital far from family members, or even a parent who is away on a business trip. In the latter case, the robot is in the childs home and connected to the Internet through a wireless connection. The parent accesses the childs robot through a secure website that displays a live video feed of the childs face through the eyes of the robot. A live audio feed from the robots microphones allows the parent to hear his or her child through the ears of the robot. Additionally, other sensor information is displayed to the parent to allow them to understand how the child is interacting with the robot, such as how they are holding the robot or where they are touching it. The parent is also able to remotely control the robot and have a conversation with their child through the embodied robot. **

2. ** A robot avatar is an extension of yourself that you control from someplace else - home, an office across town or on the other side of the world - with a computer keyboard. You'd use it to talk to people in an office or a warehouse, give factory tours or check on business without having to be there in person. **

Examples/evidence : ** It's got two "eyes," one of which houses a laser guidance system to help it navigate while the other is home to its camera. A videoscreen on the front lets people see who's controlling it.Founder Trevor Blackwell said that after the novelty wears off, people react naturally with the bot and talk to it as if the person inhabiting it is really there. And that's the key, he said - better communication. **
 * "Conversations aren't always in someone's cubicle or in a **** conference room," Blackwell said. "You can follow them [co-workers] into the cubicle, follow them down to lunch. You can join conversations where people would naturally have a conversation." **

1. ** They have very limited duties. Although some robots may be able to teach students, they cannot answer all of the students' questions, as they cannot replace a human being, but only mimic them in a very limited field. **
 * Disadvantages : **

Examples/evidence :

2. ** They are costly and expensive, and we may not be able to afford them. **

Examples/evidence : " ** Some of the first ones went on sale just last month by Anybots, for $15,000 a bot." **


 * taken from http://www.newsday.com/classifieds/jobs/meet-your-future-co-workers-robot-avatars-1.2241758 **

** Based on your list of advantages and disadvantages, decide on your own position. Write one paragraph to explain why you prefer one side over the other. Support your views with strong reasoning as well as examples, evidence and/or illustrations. **
 * Your views : (15 mins) **
 * Based on my list of advantages and disadvantages, I feel that having robot avatars are better as they have more advantages then disadvantages to them. Robot avatars can enhance the learning of students and they will also pique the children's curiosity as this is something new and interesting that they have not experienced in the classroom before. It makes them feel excited and they would be more eager to learn. Also, it would make it much more convenient for the teacher, for example, in a situation where the teacher is sick and has to stay at home. **** The robot is in the teacher's home and connected to the Internet through a wireless connection. The students can then accesses the teacher's robot through a secure website that displays a live video feed of the teacher's face through the eyes of the robot. A live audio feed from the robots microphones allows the students to hear the teacher through the ears of the robot. This then allows the teacher to be able to teach the students from home. **