Introducing kids to new AI educational tools
Two Bay Area schools are testing dog avatars to teach kids about AI, reports Lloyd Sowers.
Tampa, Florida – What would happen if a scary technology like artificial intelligence were disguised as two adorable Bernedoodles named Baxter and Bruce? The two virtual puppies are being tested to teach Bay Area students about AI.
“We wanted to make AI less scary, so we came up with the idea of using a dog as an avatar,” explained Marley Strawn, a former teacher and co-founder of local edtech startup Scholar Education.
The avatars look like Baxter and Bruce and know everything the teacher is teaching because the lesson plans and backgrounds are part of the computer program.
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“Basically, students can ask any question they want based on what’s taught in class that day,” Strawn said.
Additionally, dog avatars can be installed on students’ laptops and taken home to help them with homework. Scholar Education began testing the avatars last year at Dayspring Academy in Pasco County, and the latest version is now being tested with third- through 12th-graders at Pepin Academy in Tampa.
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Pepin Academy math teacher David Byrne is excited about using technology with his students.
“In the real world, they’re going to have access to cell phones and AI,” Byrne said. “We have to teach them when it’s appropriate and inappropriate to use them and how to use them properly.”
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When kids’ minds wander and they ask the avatar off-topic questions, the Baxter Bot gently brings them back on topic.
“They love how energetic he is. He’s got a dog-like personality, but he always keeps them on the right track,” Strawn said.
This virtual dog even talks to children who are just beginning to learn English.
“There are 174 different languages that the Baxter Bot can speak to students in,” Strawn explained.
AI is super smart, and watching Baxter and Bruce introduce it into education is adorable.
“I think having two dogs is the best way to get people to come to my field,” Byrne said with a smile.
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