Educational robots as learning tools in the future

Since the pandemic in early 2020, the educational system has been greatly affected worldwide. To help reduce the spread of COVID-19, governments from several countries then imposed quarantine measures, thus affecting schools. UNESCO states that “over 1.18 million learners in 186 countries, representing 67.7% of the total number of enrolled students, have been affected.”

As a means of adaptation, online education was integrated to reduce face to face interactions. And with this adaptation comes the significance of educational robots in today’s “new normal” learning system. According to Business Wire, Technavio estimates the educational robot market to grow at a 28 percent CAGR from 2020 to 2024. This is thanks to the emergence of startup companies in this segment and the lowered pricing of these robots. Buyers looking to source “future-proof” smart tech that is highly in-demand for consumers should consider importing educational robots from Verified Suppliers on Global Sources.

The incorporation of educational robots and kits yields several benefits. From early childhood to middle school, these robots help make learning more fun for children because these device grab their attention and interest. Another feature of educational robots is there ability for endless repetitions, which may tire a parent or teacher. For instance, when children request for a story to be narrated several times, a robot can do as such with ease. Robots also aid teachers and parents in terms of time and efficiency. When the adults are busy, children at home or in school can still learn several lessons through these robots.

A company called Roybi has more than 500 lessons incorporated in its robot units, which teach children ages three and up vocabulary, language development, conversational skills and basic STEM subjects. Their robots incorporate Artificial Intelligence (AI) and facial recognition, which help “facilitate and encourage continuous learning at home in fun and engaging manners. Children are encouraged to listen attentively, to repeat and engage in discussion.” In addition, the company launch a robot named DOCBI, otherwise known as the “scientist friend.” This robot was developed in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it teaches children proper self-care such as good hygiene and handwashing.

Educational robots can aid children in realizing their passions and potential career paths in the STEM field. High school students learning robotics can pick up technical skills prominent in the job market like programming, science and technology, and engineering. Soft skills such as computational and higher order thinking, problem-solving, logical and analytical reasoning, and creativity will also be honed in the process. These robots can also cater to children with special needs. According to an article from Acer, educational robots can help children with autism in learning and improving their “communication and social skills” when they interact with these AI-enabled robots that respond to their reactions.

Aside from robots benefiting children, students, teachers and parents alike, robotics will aid in the job market. Robotics is estimated to “create 133 million jobs by 2022, with robot sales estimated at 553,000 units by the end of 2020,” as mentioned in a Robot Lab article.

The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed the world to consider alternative means to education. As Elnaz Sarraf, founder of Roybi once said, “Robots will not be able to replace humans, but they will enhance the quality of our lives by assisting us in ways that were not possible in the past.” Robotics is here to stay to improve the education system for years to come. Global Sources has several available educational robots that incorporate AI and teach children the alphabet, drawing, counting, spelling and many more.