Robot Teachers for a Brighter Tomorrow

“I worry that if kids grow up being taught by robots and viewing technology as the instructor,” said Mitchel Resnick, head of the Lifelong Kindergarten group at the Media Laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, “they will see it as the master.” http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/11/science/11robots.html

These words from Mitchel Resnick, a man who can't help but obey the commands of his master, anyone with a yardstick or piece of chalk.

Shortly after Mr. Resnick's comments the article goes on to mention "most computer scientists reply that they have neither the intention, nor the ability, to replace human teachers," which is a relief, because if all computer scientists said that I would have no hope for the future.

As I've mentioned before, I have a top ten list of jobs I think would be better suited for robots, "teacher" being one of them.

It's not that I don't admire good teachers, it's that I abhor lazy, ill tempered, opinionated teachers who become easily distracted from the subject they're teaching in order to go on tirades about some social political commentary they practiced the night before for their cat.

In other, less grimly mocking, words, some humans are better suited to act as an experienced adviser to train and counsel young people and some let their emotions and personal agenda get in the way.

Teaching is about coming across with the data and being able to recognise those who are having difficulty absorbing or computing this data. The robots mentioned in this article are in the early stages of pattern recognition technology that would make sure even the slightest flicker of doubt or confusion in someone's face will not go unaddressed.

Misanthropy aside, robots top humans in the ability to: store more information, retrieve that information faster, stick to the facts, not have emotions, recognise confusion faster, develop better teaching techniques, not choose favorites, not intentionally or unintentionally judge a child based on religion, race, who their parents are, etc.

If we had better teachers, perhaps we'd have less morons out there. Robot teachers are the key to a brighter future.