Robotic artists in STEAM education
Twenty years ago, we couldn’t imagine that the most sought-after jobs would be in the high-tech sector: today, the world requires artificial intelligence interaction specialists, big data engineers, and workers in various IT fields. And another twenty years from now? The next generation's jobs have probably not even been invented yet; they are being created every day. Various technological solutions are already being implemented to prepare for future professional challenges.
Robohood Inc. developed unique software for robotic manipulators that allows them to create paintings on various surfaces. As part of the STEAM program, our Robotic artists help students develop the skills required for future careers. Here’s how it works.
Technologies are entering our lives faster than ever before. They bring changes to which we must adapt, often struggling to keep up. This is especially true in the professional world — technological advances are creating new fields that are constantly in need of specialists. However, schools and most universities still stick to traditional education programs focusing on rote learning. This creates an enormous gap between the skills needed and those acquired.
To fill the gaps, many schools are adopting an educational methodology incorporating STEAM principles (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics). The core of this educational approach is integrating science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and creative disciplines. If we think back to how we learned in school, the subjects rarely intersected, making it useless. STEAM, however, allows for a transition from traditional education to a more exploratory one.
The STEAM philosophy integrates science, technology, and the arts. Students can combine knowledge from these areas and, most importantly, apply it. The concept helps to develop new fundamental skills that are essential for working in organizations of the future: critical thinking, the ability to interact and communicate, and a creative approach to tasks.
The principles of Robohood combine technology and art. We are already integrating creative and engineering aspects, a distinctive and essential feature of the STEAM approach. We use robotic artists with our technology as intellectual mobile learning objects, enabling the understanding of complex and abstract concepts and phenomena. The crucial aspect is that students can interact with them at all stages.
We installed Robohood’s Mobile Robotic Art Studio to help several educational institutions implement STEAM. For example, at the Moonlighter FabLab summer camp for elementary and middle school students, we ran a workshop with a diverse group of children that included theory and practice with the Robotic artist.
By interacting with the robot, the students learned about the company and the technology we develop, about artificial intelligence and how it works, and also created their text prompts for painting. Younger kids asked and compared the manipulator to popular robots. Based on these comparisons, we explained how the Robohood technology works. Older kids wanted to know more about the reasoning behind: Why a robot that paints? What type of coding was used to program the robot? How does the software work? How is coding used?
The kids were very interested in the different styles that the robot could paint. We explained the principle of how they are programmed and what is needed to do. With a longer course of study with the Robotic artist, the students will develop their painting style.
How to integrate a robot into the learning process (read on our website https://www.robohood.com/robohood-for/robohood-for-education)?
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In our time, science and art can no longer exist separately. For example, a study by Johns Hopkins University showed that art improves cognitive skills, develops memory and attention, and helps find non-trivial solutions to situations.
A robotic artist in education provides an engaging learning process. It is an entertaining and useful tool that captures and holds students’ attention, helping them focus on acquiring information. Students not only learn how the technologies work but also apply these skills. For example, students learn about algorithms and geometry as they calibrate the tool before using it. Developing their painting styles can help students gain programming skills. Image generation will help develop creative thinking and imagination, while selecting and adjusting painting styles will allow students to learn more about art and understand its principles.
Robohood in STEAM provides an opportunity for students to develop other disciplines, including literacy and social studies. It allows students to develop teamwork skills, express themselves through technological tools, solve problems, and think critically and innovatively.
By teaching children the arts and technology, we help them harmoniously combine scientific rigor and creative freedom in their work, giving them a competitive edge in the job market.
References
Understanding How the Arts Can Enhance Learning. / Magsamen, Susan H.; Battro, Antonio M.?
In: Mind, Brain, and Education, Vol. 5, No. 1, 03.2011, p. 1-2.
Research output: Contribution to journal ? Article ? peer-review