+ Virtual Inclusion via Telepresence Robots in the Classroom Veronica Newhart, UC Irvine Dr. Mark...

+

Virtual Inclusion via Telepresence Robots in the Classroom

Veronica Newhart, UC IrvineDr. Mark Warschauer, UC IrvineDr. Leonard Sender, CHOC and UC Irvine

+Telepresence Robots

+Virtual Inclusion

allows a child to actively participate in educational and social activities throughout the day

+Rationale for Study

Inability to attend school may lead to feelings of loneliness, decreased self-esteem and a loss in sense of belonging

+Background

In the United States, 17% of all students under the age of 18 suffer from a chronic illness that affects their performance in school (Cox et al., 2008)

+Local Population

+What’s Been Done: Case Study

• Interviewso Five homebound childreno Five parentso Eleven teacherso Five school and district

officials

• Observations and classmate focus groupso Two classrooms

+Overcoming Isolation

Able to attend school for full day

Audition for and join school clubs (e.g. choir, Boy Scouts, creative writing classes)

Attend field trips

+Anthropomorphization of the Robot

Children ascribe human qualities to robot Do not want photograph with both child

and robot Hug robot when child “returns” to school “We like it when he chases us”

+Robot as bridge to the future

o Frequent references made by both teachers and classmates to “when he comes back to school”

+Design Features

Camera “tilt” capabilities

Surround audio (microphones)

Self-docking

Safety, low-weight

+Design Features

Adjustable height

Life-size face image

Wheels/tracks compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards

Safety, gyroscope

+Design Recommendations

Teacher pass code for controls on robot

Camera “pan” (left to right) feature

Ability to hand out and receive assignments in real-time

+Current Study 2015-2016

Study will be replicated with larger sample size:

2 robots in Orange County

8 additional robots in CA, January 2016

8 robots in the East

14 robots in the Midwest

+Questions?

Please contact:Veronica Newhart via email at

vnewhart@uci.edu or visit http://www.veronicanewhart.com