My classroom robot: Exploring telepresence for K-12 education in a virtual environment

Abstract

Telepresence robots have the potential to improve access to K-12 education. However, designing robots for classroom use presents unique challenges from both logistical and technological perspectives. To address these challenges, we created My Classroom Robot, an interactive game in which players can operate a virtual telepresence robot in a classroom environment. The virtual classroom environment allows us to collect data and prototype different designs prior to involving the high overhead required in going into the real classroom. In this work, we present the design of My Classroom Robot, an initial evaluation, and the lessons learned from its development.