ABC’s of Education: Richland One ‘RoboKind’ levels playing field for students

Richland, SC ( WOLO) —In tonight’s ABC’s of Education, we explore how Richland School District One is using technology in the classroom to level the playing field for children with special needs.

We all learn differently, some visually and others with hands-on techniques. I went to one school in the district that’s taken a pilot program to help students soar to new heights using both.  

Meet Carver and his classmate Mustafa, both students at A.C. Moore Elementary School. Well, sort of. You see Carver is a ‘RoboKind’ bot standing next to his human peer who is working to improve his social-emotional learning skills. Students with autism spectrum disorders can now  engage with the humanoid, while a teacher on a nearby tablet prompts the device programmed with 22 of the 28 evidence-based practices for autism. 

 “ Our research shows a student with a teacher is engaged 2 to 3 percent of the time in a lesson, but when you include technology like this robot it jumps up to 87 and a half percent of engagement time.” 

And when students with cognitive disabilities are engaged, teachers can spend more time teaching. Richland School District One started using the international pilot program in 2017 with a simple study. Dr. Lisa Kershaw, the Robot Lead Success Manager says, out of the 606 students who participated, 90 percent were able to meet their IEP goal in the first year three years later she says the numbers remain consistent. So what’s this cyborg’s secret to success?   

“ One of the major components that RoboKind brings to the Richland One community is an opportunity of consistency when it comes down to voice, the language of emotion and most importantly, communication.” 

Children watch Carver’s life like expressions, from a smile, the motion of his fingers, or the  even a scowl allowing them to follow his cues on alternative responses to stimuli good and bad. All that educators say these students have as examples in social engagements they can use in and outside of the classroom.

 “ It gives our students the opportunity to bridge the educational gap and work with their general ed peers.

That international pilot program is now a permanent fixture in all of the Richland One classrooms, with a total of 29 throughout the district. Educators tells us out of all of the states using the ‘RoboKind’ bot, South Carolina is using it more than any other location, and they say Richland County has been using it with the most success.