R2-D2 creator on world tour without leaving his home

Every educator knows no matter if they are teaching in the class room, seminars or distant learning, keeping the student attention with multi media tools and compelling text is of vital importance.

iBot2000 is about the fascinating world of Robotics of the Past, Present and Future, including the latest discoveries in technology, which will allow parents an insight into the revolutionary new world their children will be exposed to in the very near future.

The Robot Awareness Program. Is an incentive program set up by Tony Dyson , specifically targeting the younger student, either as individuals or as a collective group or class?

So what are the elements of this program, well the idea is built around a free publication which we call a Botcard a clever piece of software which the student can edited easily by adding a picture and text about any specific robot, this is the first phase which encourages the student to search the Internet for the latest robots to create a simple record utilizing the botcard. Other features include, a built in e-mailer for sharing your collection with friends, just like collecting base ball cards.

There is also a print button so you can build up your portfolio to add to a ring binder, plus sticky notes that allows you to add additional information that can be saved as a separate file and imported and exported between botcard publications, a very useful feature, if working on a group project which includes a teacher or instructor.

So what can be gained by using botcards, well the principles are very simple, many students and some times educators simpley do not have the resources to set up a practical robotic project, indeed many teachers have little experience in the field of robotics and find it difficult to begin and sustain a worthwhile program. After three years of working with teachers around the world the answers dropped into place and like most good ideas we wondered why it had not been seen before.

For young students to understand the basic principles of robotics and the fantastic opportunities for a career, this can offer a clear choice. First they need to know the difference between real and fantasy film robots and second we need to be made aware of the amazing robots we now have in a wide cross section of our society and third they needed to be aware how robotics involve all technology and sciences.

Above I described how working with teachers and students we discovered that younger students have difficulty in discerning the difference between the many types of robots and therefore the searching and collecting of data through the use of botcards is a fascinating way of discovery.

We also found to our surprise that teachers and parents were discovering a whole new world, as one teacher put it (I had know idea there were such fantastic robots working within our society, the popular media do not seem to cover them. I now understand why Tony Dyson says that robotics is the career choice of the future).

You may not be turned on by Robots, but thousands of Robots are being turn-on every day and it’s in your child’s best interest to learn a little more about this fascinating subject. Tony Dyson the man who created R2-D2 is on a virtual tour talking about robots with children in schools all over the world.

If you would like Tony to talk to your class, please fill in the form below, thank you!

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