[robocup-humanoid] Humanoid Robots- NEED EXPERT ADVICE

[Sara]

Thanks Damien! That is my approach as well and everything you mention is exactly what I believe. I also see how the humanoid system has advanced programming language skills which can be beneficial for some students. In some research I have done, I see that humanoids (already built) robots are very appealing and can be effective pedagogy to our Autistic clientele. In Quebec, we have 1 out of 66 children who are diagnosed with Autism. By the year 2025, research is showing 1 out 12. Plus, these kids are linear thinkers which could be interesting to explore. As such, would like to experiment with a humanoid type robot first. 

Does that make sense?

Sent from my iPhone

> On Oct 8, 2015, at 5:33 PM, Damien Kee <damien at domabotics.com> wrote:
> 
> I'm going to be "that person" and ask what I believe is the fundamental question, "what are you trying to teach?"  I view robotics not as a subject but as a tool for teaching STEM topics.  We're not teaching robotics, we're using robotics as a really engaging way of teaching STEM concepts.  All educational decisions need to first address what is trying to be achieved, and then as a secondary measure, identifying the tools that can be used to teach those concepts.  If robots are a good fit to teach those concepts, then that's great, otherwise you look to other technologies / tools to teach those concepts.
> 
> Why do you need to use humanoids for teaching?  This is a genuinely open question.  Is there something that a humanoid platform enables that other platforms don't?  More engagement?  More context to robots in society?  All are valid approaches.
> 
> If the concepts can be taught with a simpler / cheaper system, then as an educational organisation this is probably a better way to go.  How many LEGO/VEX/Arduino kits can you purchase for the same price as one humanoid?  
> 
> Me personally, I'd prefer to buy 100 arduino kits and reach 100x more students than a NAO (US$20,000???)
> 
> Just my 2cents worth (although worth a lot less with the current AUD/USD exchange rate!)
> 
> cheers
> damo
> 
>> On 9 October 2015 at 02:23, AMY EGUCHI <amy_eguchi at bloomfield.edu> wrote:
>> Hi Sara,
>> 
>> I know some school teachers (all from private schools) using NAO in the U.S. With NAO, you can use Choreographe to start programming NAO. The code created with Choreographe can be opened with Python. Those students (event they are high school students) are all using Choreographe at this point.
>> 
>> If you are interested, I can introduce you to the teacher who has been using NAO for last two years.
>> 
>> 
>> cheers amy
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>> On Thu, Oct 8, 2015 at 12:14 PM, Sara Iatauro <siatau at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> Dear RoboCup Colleagues,
>>> 
>>> Hope this message finds you well. As some of you may know, I am an educational consultant for 68 schools in STEM (Science & Robotics) for both primary and secondary inclusive education groups. I have received a large grant to implement robotics in all our schools over the next 3 years. The system we are using are EV3, VEX, some Arduino right now. I am trying to move the Secondary schools especially to all use Arduino. I am in the process of getting them all set-up for material and training. With this initiative, I am hoping to adopt a more computer science/ technical model as many of your international schools would probably have. The province of Quebec, Canada Secondary schools are really lagging behind compared to many of your country schools or programs. I have also witnessed and seen this from many RoboCup events over the years.  
>>> 
>>> One of my next school programs I am looking at is Humanoid Robot systems. I am looking to all of you as experts to enlighten me on which humanoid I should look at implementing at the Secondary level in the near future. Would it be the NAO or Darwin or another one?    
>>> 
>>> Thank you for your help,
>>> 
>>> 
>>> -- 
>>> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>>> Sara Iatauro, PhD. (STEM scholar)
>>> “Educating the mind without educating 
>>> the heart is no education at all.”   - Aristotle 
>>> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> -- 
>> **************************************
>> Amy Eguchi, PhD
>> Associate Professor of Education
>> Bloomfield College
>> 467 Franklin Street
>> Bloomfield, NJ 07003
>> 973.748.9000 ext. 1122/1110
>> amy_eguchi at bloomfield.edu
>> emiamy at post.harvard.edu
>> 
>> ******* Peace on Earth ************
>