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Children get robot teachers - 17th December 2021
This little robot is working in classrooms in South Korea. Its name is "Alpha Mini". It's helping to teach 4 and 5 year olds.
Alpha Mini is only 24.5 centimetres tall. But it can dance, sing and read stories. It can do exercise. It makes silly noises for children too.
Jang Min-sung: "It’s great fun."
Lee Ga-yoon: "When I tell it to sing, it sings well. I tell it to dance and we dance together. I can tell it to sit down on a chair I made."
Jang Min-sung: "I enjoy it watching it do kung-fu and singing."
Lee Ga-yoon: "Playing with the robot makes me happy."
Children like the robot. They're learning to use artificial intelligence too. This is important. Han Dong-seog works for the government.
Han Dong-seog: "In the future, knowing how to manage AI and related tools will be very important. We believe having such experience in nursery schools will have a lasting effect through their youth and as adults."
Seoul's government is testing Alpha Mini in 300 preschools. It's helping children from 4 to 6 years old. And 3 year olds will soon use Alpha Mini too.
But teachers will stay in the classroom. Alpha Mini is only there to help.
Han Dong-seog: "We don’t think the robots will replace teachers, but they will assist them. After this year’s pilot programme and as we continue the programme next year, we will definitely have to develop a manual regarding the robot’s role and position."
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