Meet the interactive robot making a mark on Quebec's classrooms

While the NAOhumanoid robotsounds much like a work of science fiction, the58-centimetre machine is actually making a difference in some Quebec classrooms.

A researcher from theUniversitdeMontralhas helped bring the NAO into four Quebec schools and hopes to see the project expand.

"Kids were so engaged, just because the robot was there," said Prof. ThierryKarsenti,who also holds a Canada Research Chair in information technology and education.

"They were coming to school on ped days. They were staying at school, after school, until5 p.m."

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Future engineers?

In this case, the purpose of the robotisto motivate students to learn, engage and become comfortable with interactive, programmable technology, Karsentisaid.

"By the end of the school year, some of them wanted to be programmers, engineers, others wanted to create the video games. How they saw themselves in the future really evolved," he said.

"Why? Because they realized they had the power to control a robot."

The NAO, which has been in development since 2006,is described by its parent company SoftBank Roboticsas a "teachers'ally."

Karsentihas shown students as young as eight years old atcoleprimairePaul-Jarryin Lachinehow to program the NAO tosing, dance and even play soccer

The technology, however, comes with a hefty $6,000 price tag.

"I'm hoping in a few years from now, they'll be a lot cheaper," he said.

"But I think it's still a good thing to try in schools."

A powerful tool

Karsenti explained that beyond inspiring and challenging young minds, the NAO may be able tohelp students with autismexcelin the classroom as well.

Another schoolinvolved in the projectis theCFER de Bellechasse in Saint-Raphal-de-Bellechasse, a school for children with special needs.

Karsentisaidhe's had a lot of success using NAO to interact with children on the autism spectrum disorder.

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"Kids who never who never talk in class, who never look at their teacher in the eye.. they looked at the robot. They talked to the robot. They really empathize with the robot,"saidteacher DianaOsorio.

"I felt it was cute, immediately when I saw it. It's weird to feel that way when you see a machine. And I can see why kids, especially kids with autism feel attracted," she said.