Tools for STEAM education: Painting Robots
Twenty years ago, who would have thought that the most sought-after jobs would be in tech? The world needs experts in AI, big data engineering, and IT. What about twenty years from now? New jobs are created all the time. To help students prepare for the professional challenges of the future, new technological solutions are being introduced into education.
Robohood Inc. created software for robotic manipulators that lets them paint on different surfaces. Our Robotic artists help students develop skills for future careers as part of the STEAM program. This is how it works.
Adapting to Rapid Technological Change
Technology is changing our lives faster than ever. We must adapt. This is especially true in the professional world, where new fields are constantly being created and need specialists. But schools and universities often teach in a way that doesn’t prepare students for the real world, especially when we talk about developing technologies.
To fill these gaps, many schools are adopting an educational methodology that incorporates the principles of STEAM. This approach integrates science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and creative disciplines. In traditional education, it's hard to make the connection between different subjects. This can make learning less useful. STEAM is a great way to move away from traditional education and embrace a more open-minded, interdisciplinary approach.
STEAM Philosophy and Robohood
The STEAM philosophy is all about bringing together science, technology, the arts, and more to help students learn how to combine and apply their knowledge from these areas. This concept is excellent for helping students develop important skills they’ll need for future work. These include critical thinking, communication, and a creative approach to tasks.
Robohood combines technology and art, aligning perfectly with the STEAM approach. We use robotic artists as mobile learning objects to help students understand complex and abstract concepts in a fun and engaging way. Crucially, students can interact with the robots at all process stages.
We installed Robohood’s Mobile Robotic Art Studio in several educational institutions to help implement STEAM. For instance, at the Moonlighter FabLab summer camp for elementary and middle school students, we led a workshop that combined theory and practice with the Robotic artist.
Hands-On Learning with Robotic artists
By interacting with the robot, students learned about our company and technology, artificial intelligence, and how it works. They also got to create their own text prompts for painting. Younger kids compared the manipulator to popular robots. Based on these comparisons, we explained how the Robohood technology works. The older kids were interested and wanted to know more about the painting robot, how it works, and what kind of coding it uses.
The students were excited to see the different styles the robot can paint. We explained how these styles are programmed and what is required to achieve them. With a longer course of study, students can let their creativity soar and develop their own unique painting styles using the Robotic artist.
See, how to integrate a robot into the learning process
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Science and Art: A Necessary Convergence
Today, science and art can no longer exist separately. A study by Johns Hopkins University showed that art is great for your brain. It helps improve cognitive skills, find non-trivial solutions to situations, and develop memory and attention.
Robotic artists in education are a great way to make learning fun and useful because they capture students’ attention and help them focus on learning. And the best part is that students not only learn how the technologies work but also get to apply these skills. For instance, they learn about algorithms and geometry while calibrating the tool and develop programming skills while creating their painting styles. Have you ever thought about how image generation can help foster creative thinking and imagination? And how selecting and adjusting painting styles can teach students about art principles?
Robohood’s Broader Educational Impact
Robohood in STEAM education is a great way to develop other disciplines, including literacy and social studies. It gives students the chance to develop their teamwork skills, express themselves through technological tools, solve problems, and think critically and innovatively.
When we teach children the arts and technology, we help them find the perfect balance between scientific rigor and creative freedom in their work. This gives 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
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-228X.2011.01101.x
