Turkey Run Elementary introduces robot to support students

MARSHALL, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Another local elementary school is using a robot to help kids connect and learn and a local politician came to see the robot in action.

A few local schools in the area use these robots to help support students. These resources are called “Robo-Kind” robots and they have a primary function of teaching communication skills to students with communication disorders.

Turkey Run Elementary has a Robo-Kind Robot for students to use and the school named theirs Carver, while Rosedale Elementary named their Robo-Kind Robot Milo.

Curriculum and Grant Specialist for North Central Park, Beth Faust, said the tech was made possible by a $60,000 grant.

Senator Spencer Deery of the 23rd District was in attendance on Tuesday and said he’s very much in support of this program.

“We’re blessed living a day when we have these technologies where there’s the ability to be able to approach a kid in a new novel way and a less intimidating way and to use those as an advantage,” Deery said.

Faust noted the interactions with these robots can seem less intimidating, and even exciting, to the kids.

“One of the developmental preschool students walked by and said ‘That’s Milo,’ and she came in and started dancing with him she was just excited to see him,” Faust explained. “That interaction that they have with something that’s artificial intelligence is just amazing.”

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