News from TechTerra
April 2017
AI Robots for Kids
By, Susan Wells, Founder
AI (artificial intelligence) includes a broad range of robots and devices that have the ability to gain and apply knowledge and skills through machine learning. This year has seen a barrage of AI robots and learning tools incorporating AI. These robots and tools are intended to provide information, companionship, monitoring, tutoring and more. Amazon Echo and Google Home already provide hands-free voice activated information to homes. As these computers learn more about the humans they interact with, the devices are better able to meet their needs. Now this technology is available for children.
Many see this as a movement toward equity because information is always available and it can allow personalization. For example, in The Driver in the Driverless Car, How our Technology Choices will Create the Future, Vivek Wadhwa and Alex Salkever’s positive outlook on these developments, tell us that “Emerging technologies...will, with teachers provid(ing) guidance and coaching, supercharge learning by making it truly a one-to-one experience at every stop of the learning journey.”
As a counterpoint to the optimistic view, a more cautious approach was expressed by former President Barack Obama. In Wired, President Obama said, “If properly harnessed, it (AI) can generate enormous prosperity and opportunity. But it also has some downsides that we’re gonna have to figure out in terms of not eliminating jobs. It could increase inequality. It could suppress wages.”
We know that potential downsides for children regarding AI exist. These include questions of privacy and concern that these toys could isolate children. There is a concern that AI robots could replace human companionship and leave children with machine companions rather than human friends.
What we know for sure is that this new market of AI robots and tools is expanding exponentially. It’s necessary for all of us to understand the tools, their capabilities, and their limitations. We need to decide if they could be a good fit for our kids. To make that decision, we want to know what is out in the market now. Becoming familiar with AI makes good sense for you and your child.
A few of the AI robots and tools available now in the market that we’ve had a chance to take a look at and to play with include:
CogniToys, the Wi-Fi-enabled, educational smart toy is a dinosaur that learns and grows with children. These are conversational dinos powered by IBM’s Watson and Elemental Path's Friendgine technology. The technology allows the dinos to provide a child with a personalized play experience and the AI technology automatically grows with your child. This allows a child’s play experiences to become more personalized the more they play.
Mattel Toy Company developed Aristotle, a device that combines AI, cameras, and voice recognition to help parents and kids and to serve as an artificially intelligent home assistant. It can talk, record video, place orders, and help humans become better communicators. Mattel describes Aristotle as a device aimed to be “a nanny, friend, and tutor, intended to both soothe a newborn and help a tween with their foreign language homework.” Privacy is, and has been, an important focus for companies. Mattel has worked to make sure that the way data is handled internally is both COPAA and HIPAA compliant. Because the device can be used to place orders, it is important for parents to talk with their kids about limits that parents may want to set.
Kuri is a smart home robot from Bosch’s internal startup company, Mayfield Robotics. Kuri has a facial detection feature that allows the device to tailor its reactions and responses to faces and expressions it sees. That means it can smile back at people who smile at it, and watch your face with its eyes while waiting for your next instruction.
Leka, is another new robotic companion but this robot is designed specifically for children with special needs. The goal behind Leka is to motivate these children and to help them learn, play, and progress with cognitive and motor skills.
PARO is an advanced interactive robot developed by AIST, a Japanese industrial automation pioneer. PARO was designed to provide the benefits of animal therapy in hospital and extended care settings where live therapy animals might not be appropriate because of treatment or logistical difficulties.
Celebrate Earth Day on April 22, 2017
(It’s National Environmental Education Week and National Park Week Too)
April 22, 2017, is Earth Day all across the planet. Hundreds of countries and millions of people will be taking part in events from tree plantings to teach-ins on environmental and climate literacy. TechTerra Education will be joining in Earth Day by gifting area schools with plants for their gardens. We will get our hands dirty as we add to a beautiful garden for all to enjoy. Planting allows us to connect directly to the earth on which we all depend.
Earth Day began in 1970 as a way to bring attention to the environment. Nations all over the globe held events to share information and concerns about our natural world. The US Environmental Protection Agency was founded in 1970 by President Richard Nixon. On April 22, 1970, the US held an environmental teach-in and April 22 became the official Earth Day. Every year since 1970, nations have participated in Earth Day and raised awareness about caring for our planet.
TechTerra’s founding philosophy is based on the importance of nature and the great outdoors. We strive to connect students and adults to the natural world around us. It’s a big part of who and what we are and an important premise for our Camp TechTerra camps. We use our 4 C’s - creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, and communication – to help us connect our STEM to the world around us and to become informed stewards of the planet we share.
Several of the companies we work with are engaging in Earth Day activities. Tynker, coding for kids, created an Earth Day coding game designed to create change starting with understanding litter. Springbay Studio has several dynamic environmental apps, including iBiome-Ocean and iBiome-Wetland, that are STEM based games intended to help teach students about oceans, wetlands, and other natural biomes. A biome is bigger than a habitat and includes plants and animals with common features over a range of areas on the planet. Copernicus Educational Products, a Canadian-based company, sent White Spruce and White Cedar saplings to schools in a “Trees for Schools” event for 2017. Schools will send photos of the planted saplings to Copernicus as part of their Earth Day events. These are just a few examples of what companies are doing.
There is a world out there participating in Earth Day 2017. Find your way to participate!
SUMMER CAMPS AT CAMP TECHTERRA – YOU STILL HAVE TIME TO REGISTER !
Register online or by mail today for Camp TechTerra 2017 Summer Sessions!
(Be on the lookout for Fall 2017 After-School Camp Registration)
Our Summer Camp sessions are available in the Triangle and Triad areas near Raleigh-Durham , NC and in Greenville, NC. Our camps offer opportunities for elementary and middle school students. Choose your location and camp theme and register today. Go to our link at: Camp TechTerra Summer Camp and look through our list of summer camps. To register online, click on the Eventbrite link for the camp you want your child to attend.To register by mail, download the Registration Form and mail your completed form, along with your tuition check, to:
TechTerra Education
104R Highway 54 Bypass, #351
Carrboro, NC 27510
(Please make your check payable to TechTerra Education)
Do You have a Summer Camp near you?
If you are a parent, a member of a PTA, a teacher, or an administrator, and you want to know how to add a camp, please contact us. You can reach us by emailing us at camp@techterraeducation.com or by calling our office in Durham and contacting our programs director, Janey Hachmeister, at (919) 710-7185. We look forward to hearing from you!
Camp TechTerra After-School and Summer Camps are coming to new places for Fall 2017 and Summer 2018!
Camp TechTerra is adding camps in locations in many states starting this fall! We will be adding camps in Virginia, South Carolina, and other places in the US. If you would like to know how to get Camp TechTerra After-School to your location for 2017 and Camp TechTerra Summer Camp for 2018, please contact us by emailing us at info@techterraeducation.com or by contacting our programs director, Janey Hachmeister at (919) 710- 7185. We want to hear from you!
FAQs For Camp TechTerra Parents
What will my child learn at Camp TechTerra?
Your child will learn, experiment, discover, and investigate coding, robotics, making, stop motion animation, engineering and much more. Our trained staff will work with your child to provide personalized and individualized instruction.
How do I register for camp?
Find the camp sessions that work for you by going to our website: http://www.techterraeducation.com/camp-techterra.html. You can register through Eventbrite or you can mail your registration form and check directly to us at: TechTerra Education, 104R Highway 54 Bypass, #351, Carrboro, NC 27510. (Your check should be made payable to TechTerra Education.
You need to fill out a registration form for each camper. Our registration form is found at: http://www.techterraeducation.com/uploads/1/4/3/8/14380830/camp_tt_registration_summer_2017...pdf
What does my camp tuition include?
Your camp tuition includes:
· 7:1 student to teacher ratio
· Personalized and individualized instruction
· Trained and certified teachers
· Free flex hours at no extra cost with free drop off flex from 8:30-9:00 am and free pick flex from 3:00-3:30pm
· Custom Tshirt for your child
· Innovation presentation at the end of each camp session on Friday at 2pm where we invite families to come and see what their camper has been learning and working on.
Which camp is right for my camper?
Think about what your child finds exciting and look at our camp themes. We offer so many engaging themed weeks that you and your child are sure to find one or more that will meet your needs!
In the News
➢ New Shapeshifting Printing Method Using 3D Printer
This new technology lets objects turn into different shapes using heat.
➢ A Swinging Robot named Tarzan is Helping to Monitor Crops
This robot swings on cables like a sloth.
➢ Take a Look at all the Contests Federal Agencies Have Open for Citizen Input
More than 100 federal agencies run contests asking citizens to get creative and to use technology to solve problems. The agencies award prizes to the winners. Challenge.gov is a hub to find out more about the many technology contests.
➢ Code for Change Challenge 2017 is Underway
UN Women and Irisdecent partnered to get girls all over the globe to share a vision for a change in the world and to make that vision a reality using code.
About TechTerra Education
The TechTerra Education curriculum, inspired and informed by Maker Education and Project Based Learning, was developed by Susan Wells, a national leader in mobile-integrated education and public school educator.
In addition to offering professional development training, school solutions, and tool solutions, TechTerra Education's Camp TechTerra, held during fall, spring, and summer sessions, offers programs for students ages 5 to 14 that bring together the seemingly disparate elements of technology and nature to help young people better understand the natural world through coding, storytelling, and digital devices.
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