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 Root looks like a smoke detector but is actually a sophisticated
robot. A magnetic surface, wheels, and an impressive arsenal of
sensors allow it to navigate a classroom whiteboard. But Root isn't
actually programed to do anything. Its tasks and functionality hinge
on a child's imagination.
The robot is capable of driving and drawing as well as playing
music, but Root needs instructions to operate, a line of code.
Zivthan Dubrovsky of Harvard's Wyss Institute recalls testing out
Root with kids for the first time.
"If you ask kids can you make a text based java script line
follower? They go 'no that's hard, can't do that', but we can put
level one in front of them and they can do it in minutes," he said.
 Using a tablet wirelessly connected to the robot, level one
introduces kids to the principles of programing using an interface
of simple commands and pictures. As they become more adept, they
jump to levels 2 and 3, at which point writing computer code becomes
second nature, according to Dubrovsky.
He says getting kids interested in the abstract world of programming
isn't easy, but thinks Root can help with that.
"We are not trying to create a fun toy where you are just making a
racing game. We are going to figure out how to make the racing game
and that is going to be a lot of work, a lot of perhaps negative
energy. But then there is so much positive energy at the end that it
is worth the effort," he added.
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The team hopes to partner up with education companies to develop
curriculums based around Root with the hopes of enticing schools to
add the robot to classrooms.
"By adding a robot into the classroom you are actually adding a
third agent into the classroom and you enable a new interesting way
of teaching where the students can become the teachers, teaching the
robot to do things," Dubrovsky said.
While at the same time learning a new skill, one that is
increasingly important in a digital world where knowing how to code
could become just as important as knowing to read and write.
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