Persons with disabilities are more curious to learn in recent times than before, just to make up for their physical disability. Now, the idea of teaching robotics to children is gaining popularity, especially in the field of education.
This is why we need to look at the benefits of robotics for kids with disabilities.
It is worthy of note that kids with learning disabilities (LD) struggle with specific skills such as reading, writing, or math and often need additional one-on-one support to fill learning gaps.
A team of researchers and experts has discovered that a cute little robot can help children with learning disabilities focus.
Learning disabilities contribute to students being prone to distractions. This means that they may have difficulty concentrating on a task, become fidgety, and refuse to complete work.
Individual interventions have been shown to benefit students with LD.
Researchers have looked at introducing social robots into the classroom to provide personalized support to children with and without LD.
Most of the previous research has focused on children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Few studies have been done on using robots to assist children with learning disabilities in the educational setting.
What is Robotics?
Robotics can simply be defined as the branch of technology or computer engineering that deals with robot design, construction, operation, and application.
The goal and objective of robotics are to create intelligent machines that can assist humans in various ways.
Robotics helps humans in decentralizing and solving complex real-world issues.
Examples of Robotics
Also, robotics is the intersection of science, engineering, arts, and technology that produces machines called robots that repeat or replace human actions.
Pop culture has always been fascinated with robots; Examples include R2-D2, Terminator, and WALL-E.
Why Robotics for Kids With Disabilities?
Robots encourage innovative ideas and creativity. It also allows children to prepare for the future while having fun at the same time.
Robots open children up to a whole new world of technology.
Leaders have realized the importance of robotics and have started creating programs to integrate the concept into the educational system.
Kids with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are being supported during clinic appointments by robots, developed in a partnership between the Advanced Wellbeing Research Center (AWRC), Sheffield Children’s Hospital, and Children’s Hospital Charity.
Strange situations and people can increase anxiety and distress in children with autism. Doctors may find it difficult to handle children effectively, even for routine procedures such as taking blood samples or applying a plaster cast.
This pressure can be a barrier to children getting the health care they need and lead to missed appointments.
Research has shown that children with autism respond positively to robots. This can help reduce anxiety levels and help with a child’s communication and attention skills.
Robots have an advantage over standard technology because they have a physical presence.
Consequently, can interact with the environment, and affect social interaction, including non-verbal cues such as stares, gestures, and posture.
What is Robotics Engineering?
A robotics engineer is a behind-the-scenes designer responsible for creating robots and robotic systems capable of performing tasks that humans cannot or would prefer not to complete.
For example, the Roomba was created to help humans with the mundane task of vacuuming floors.
Through their creations, robotics engineers help make jobs safer, easier, and more efficient.
Unlike other types of engineering, robotics engineering requires the ability to master a variety of technical areas: robotics engineers are the bridge between mechanics, electronics, computer science, and cognitive psychology.
Below is the list of the top 6 benefits of robotics for kids.
This list is judged by the research made and observation of some beneficiaries of robotics.
We will be careful to be articulate and factual in our listings here. So, grab a coffee and take your time to analyze these benefits.
Top 6 Benefits of Robotics for Kids with Disabilities
#1. Improving Movement Through Pediatric Robotics
Composed of inexpensive parts and plastics, Howard’s robots may not look like they belong in a sci-fi movie.
Instead, his ingenuity lies in his intelligence, which is trained on behavioral data from doctors and children, in an ongoing process.
By preparing, the AI allows for interactions similar to those between a patient and a physical therapist.
“These robots aren’t emotional, but they simulate and execute emotions pretty well,” Howard said.
This is important because when a therapy session takes place, the robots must exchange language, read and provide cues, such as dropping a child’s shoulders, to keep the patient engaged.
When that happens, smart systems can do their job. The robots make use of simulation to prompt children with cerebral palsy and autism to perform physical exercises designed to improve their movement or motor skills.
Using sensors and cameras, the systems assess each patient’s growth and provide constructive feedback and encouragement.
The hope is that after enough repetition, the patient’s movement will improve, even when the robotic therapist is nowhere to be found.
This is one of the best benefits of robotics for kids with disabilities.
#2. Robotics helps kids with disabilities focused
Engineering researchers at the University of Waterloo have successfully used a robot to help keep kids with learning disabilities focused on their work.
This was one of the key findings in a new study that also found that both children and their teachers appreciated the positive contributions a robot made to the classroom.
“There is certainly great potential for the use of robotics in the public education system,” said Dr. Kirsten Dottenhahn, professor of electrical and computer engineering.
“Overall, the results indicate that the robot has a positive effect on students.”
In recent years, teachers have explored the use of social robots to help students learn. But more often than not, their research has focused on children with autism spectrum disorders.
As a result, very little work has been done on the use of social robots for students with learning disabilities.
So, this research shows that this is one of the benefits of robotics for kids with disabilities. When they are focused, they would do great things for themselves.
#3. Robotics for kids teaches children problem-solving and engineering skills
Kids with disabilities can learn to solve problems by overcoming various challenges in a robotics class. They also learn the basics of engineering, which is designing and creating something that solves a problem.
These skills will prove invaluable in the workplace of the future!
Also, robotics can enhance their decision-making process.
Robotics for Kids is a fun and interactive way to learn STEM principles by letting them build their robots. It is an area of technology related to the programming, development, and design of robotics.
When all these are done, the confidence of such chilled will be boosted. He or she will be positive in thinking and logical reasoning.
Certainly, the benefits of robotics for kids with disabilities are not a fantasy, it is proven.
#4. Robotics teaches kids with disabilities communication skills
Currently, we can find robots that help teach social skills to children with autism. Translation software that gives deaf students a more flexible and interactive experience.
Data analysis to identify effective methods to identify dyslexics.
These tools, which incorporate artificial intelligence, aim to find better ways to detect, teach and help people with learning disabilities. Some are already in the classroom. Others are still in the research stage.
Social robots, designed to interact with humans, could help teach social and educational skills to students of all abilities, including those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, hearing impairment, Down syndrome, and autism.
Meeting the needs of children on the autism spectrum is especially urgent given their sheer numbers: One in 54 children is diagnosed with autism, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
And those students tend to respond to robots “in ways that they don’t respond to dolls or pet treats, or many other things that we’ve tried,” said Brian Scascellati, a professor of computer science, cognitive science, and mechanical engineering at Yale. University.
He said that may be because robots look like humans but they don’t judge.
#5. Robotics for kids is a fun way to learn STEAM
Using Robotics in STEAM education can make a child use multiple senses.
What is STEAM?
STEAM is an educational approach that integrates the arts into the more popular STEM model, which includes science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
STEAM programs can include any of the visual or performing arts, such as dance, design, painting, photography, and writing.
The full meaning of STEAM is Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics.
So, for kids with disabilities to learn STEAM, they need the support of robotics. However, the response and focus of the child is needed to communicate knowledge.
Robotics creates a fun and happy atmosphere for such a kid to learn and understand.
#6. Robotics keeps Kids with disabilities Happy and friendly
Play is essential for children’s development. Children with severe physical disabilities often have trouble playing. In the rehabilitation and special education of children with physical disabilities, play-like activities and play-by-play are important.
As a result, a group of researchers at Research Gate, says their current study aimed at examining the possibilities of using the IROMEC robot in rehabilitation and special education for children with severe physical disabilities.
They said that “the existing play scenarios of IROMEC have the potential to support play for children with severe physical disabilities, especially in the domains of movement functions, learning and applying knowledge, communication/interpersonal interactions and relationships, and play.”
The results of this study can be used to develop specific robotic play interventions for children with severe physical disabilities. Thus, allowing them to play like fellow children and remain happy.
Just in case you don’t know, kids with disabilities tend to be angry most time. This is because they feel they are being left out of the best moments. But sometimes it is true.
Frequently Asked Questions
Social robots, designed to interact with humans, could help teach social and educational skills to students of all abilities, including those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, hearing impairment, Down syndrome, and autism.
1. Improving Movement Through Pediatric Robotics
2. Robotics helps kids with disabilities focused
3. Robotics for kids teaches children problem-solving and engineering skills
4. Robotics teaches kids with disabilities communication skills
5. Robotics for kids is a fun way to learn STEAM
6. Robotics keeps Kids with disabilities Happy and friendly
Studies have shown that robotics for children can help schoolchildren develop their ability to solve problems and learn computer programming, mathematics, and science. Schools that have allowed students to learn robotics in their curriculum are helping to create a clear approach to teaching and learning technology.
A robotics engineer is a behind-the-scenes designer responsible for creating robots and robotic systems capable of performing tasks that humans cannot or would prefer not to complete. For example, the Roomba was created to help humans with the mundane task of vacuuming floors.
Conclusion
These top 6 benefits of robotics for kids with disabilities should be followed with deliberate actions. The joy and fulfillment of a parent’s kids should be a priority. Thus, the recommendation we noted here should be employed.
Robotics is fun to learn. But when you make it available for kids with disabilities, it becomes a dream come true for them.
We have classes on robotics and coding you can enroll your child into. Just send us an email or put a call through. We would be glad to teach your child or children robotics or coding.
Reference
- https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/29/technology/ai-robots-students-disabilities.html
- https://www.chiefhealthcareexecutive.com/view/how-robotics-can-help-kids-with-developmental-disabilities
- https://www.orchidsinternationalschool.com/blog/child-learning/tips-for-robotics-for-kids/
- https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/definition/STEAM-science-technology-engineering-arts-and-mathematics
- https://www.careerexplorer.com/careers/robotics-engineer/