SubCommB+Robotics+(Mona+&+Cassidy)


 * Names of Subcommittee Members Submitting this Report on Virtual Reality: **Cassidy Keller, Mona Gomaa

__**A. Explanation of the Technology **__ According to the 2017 NMC Horizon Report, Robotics refers to the design and application of robots (automated machines that accomplish a range of activities). It is expected that by 2019, 2.5 million industrial robots will be in use (International Federation of Robotics). This can and will impact the future of jobs, and educators are looking for ways to prepare students in order to grasp and enhance the study of robotics. According to the NMC, Research and Markets predicts that "the global robotics industry will increase from $34.1 billion in 2016 to 226.2 billion by 2021, with growth in industrial robotics, consumer robots, unmanned aerial vehicles and autonomous.

__**B. Pros and Cons of Implementation **__
 * Pros: **
 * Transforms industries including military services and manufacturing, performing tasks that are unsafe or tedious for humans
 * Educators are harnessing the study of robotics to promote critical and computational thinking as well as to foster hands-on learning in STEM subjects and beyond
 * Teachers are using robotics to augment classroom instruction and promote student engagement
 * Has value in developing 21st-century skills that students can apply to many fields
 * Students’ increased resilience, collaboration, and ability to assess risks
 * Robots have potential to impact classrooms in a service capacity, facilitating learning activities or serving as teachers’ aids
 * robots can provide lessons to children in hospital isolation chambers,285 and students who are chronically ill or homebound can maintain academic progress and social connections through the use of telepresence robot


 * Cons: **
 * Concerned about future disruption of other job categories, i.e. robots taking jobs from workers who can no longer acquire other skills and become mute in the work place.
 * Two areas of concern for student impact: privacy and relationship-building risks
 * Student information could be breached
 * Might not provide students with emotional support

__**C. Anticipated Uses, Implementation, and Potential Impact on Student Achievement **__

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">With the increase of usage of robotics in almost all areas of life, Robotics competitions have become popular, providing students with opportunities to explore STEM challenges. It is important that we prepare the students for the future and with such, many schools have robotics clubs to encourage healthy and productive competitions among students, making learning exciting and fun. In fact in Minnesota, Connecticut, and Texas Robotics is an official sport in high schools.
 * Implementation :**

**A****nticipated Uses:** As noted earlier, Robots can be used in almost any facet of daily life. In education, Robots can provide lessons to children in hospital isolation chambers, and students who are chronically ill or home-bound can maintain academic progress and social connections through the use of telepresence robots. For mainstream students, they can act as teacher's assistants in the regular classroom and facilitate learning. Outside of education, robots are predicted to become major players in the many other fields including businesses, especially e-commerce where they will fill orders in warehouses. Their roles in factories will expand including having supervisory roles, and they will also open ways in other fields including health, logistics, utilities and resources ( http://www.zdnet.com/article/the-future-of-robotics/).

According to the NMC, teachers who are teaching robotics describe learner benefits including increased resilience, collaboration, and ability to asses risks. Students can become emotionally attached to these robots, however, they might not be programmed to address or react to these social/emotional goals. Teaching students skills related to Robotics is very important as the growth in jobs in those areas are expected. Though some will argue that Robots will "take over" jobs that are currently done by humans, it's important to note that "jobs that will grow are those involved with responding to unpredictable environments and designing and managing complex interrelated systems". Our students should be prepared to be competitive in those fields by starting earlier in their K-12 schools learning the necessary skills involved with dealing with Robots. It is predicted that by 2020, 35% of robotics related jobs will be vacant (http://www.zdnet.com/article/the-future-of-robotics/), offering students with Robotics experience an upper hand in being competitive in that field.
 * Implications for students:**

__**<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">D. Content Area Exemplar **__ <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Problem-based learning into science and math curricula using RoboRobo kits. For example, one project involves building a robotic model of a Venus flytrap. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;">Robotics can work its magic even for early elementary students. One approach that I love establishes a strong connection to English language arts using <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1e64b4; font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;">LEGO’s WeDo Construction Sets <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;">. Students build robots to help them understand the characters and plots of books they read. Story analysis and comprehension are greatly enabled and enhanced. For example, in some classrooms reading the well-known children's book <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1e64b4; font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;">Zach's Alligator <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;"> is accompanied by building an <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1e64b4; font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;">alligator robot <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;"> (or robot of another character) and then retelling or expanding on the story. And of course, in designing and building their creations, students learn basic engineering and electronics, and practice math, too. (Retrieved from https://www.edutopia.org/blog/student-robotics-k-12-curriculum-mark-gura)

__**<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">E. Supporting Internet Links **__


 * __5 Reasons to Teach Robotics in Schools__ http://www.thetechedvocate.org/five-reasons-to-teach-robotics-in-schools/


 * __Why Should I do robotics with My Middle School Students?__http://www.ircs.upenn.edu/pennlincs/robotics/introduction.htm


 * __The Many Benefits of Teaching Robotics in the Classroom__ http://www.brighthubeducation.com/middle-school-science-lessons/17432-the-importance-of-teaching-robotics/


 * __What Robotics Can Teach Kids__ https://www.or-laser.com/en/what-robotics-can-teach-kids/


 * __Is There A Robot 'Friend' In Your Future?__ https://www.forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2017/10/04/is-there-a-robot-friend-in-your-future/#28993a48516f

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Using the P-Q-P review of the subcommittee report, post at least 2 statements of praise, 2 questions, and 2 suggestions for report improvement. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">How might the subcommittee who wrote this report have provided clearer information or more examples. What more might educators want to know about the benefits and challenges, the strategies for implementation or uses, and/or the opinions of accepted educational technology experts re: the emerging technology discussed in the report? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Post your comments below. Each member of the reviewing subcommittee should contribute to this post. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">comments below. Each member of the reviewing subcommittee should contribute to this post. 1. Excellent Examples: i.e. Legos, Zach's Alligator 2. Great job explaining telepresence robots and how they will be available to work with children
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Praise: **

1. What is meant by future disruptions? 2. What is meant by "head way in other fields"?
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Questions: **

1. Font needs to be consistent. 2. Further detail in the con section
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Polish: **