Students who stay home from school for health reasons spend a lot of time catching up on the work they miss. But thanks to a robot, one Oregon teen is healing at home - and participating in class at the same time.
Jenny Hansson reports.
--REPORTER PKG-AS FOLLOWS--
(NATS) "all right well.. We have some learning goals for today."
AT FIRST GLANCE, IT LOOKS LIKE ANY OTHER HIGH SCHOOL CLASSROOM.
ALTHOUGH, LOOK CLOSER.. AND YOU'LL SEE WHAT LOOKS LIKE AN I-PAD ON A SEGWAY.
LOOK EVEN CLOSER-- AND YOU'LL SEE A FACE IN THE MONITOR-- AND HEAR A VOICE.
(NATS)
AND THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE ON THE OTHER END OF THE CAMERA-- AT JADEN CLOYES' HOME WHERE SHE IS RECOVERING FROM A BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT.
(Jaden Cloyes/Student) "Kids like me we fight every day to live and to be alive. But if we don't, if we're not able to do things or go to school or things.. What do we live for? Miss school now we've missed out on all these opportunities for a future."
OPPORTUNITIES SCHOOL LEADERS DIDN'T WANT JADEN TO MISS -- SO A TEAM EFFORT GOT THE BALL ROLLING TO GET THE DEVICE-- CALLED "DOUBLE" -- TO DOUBLE FOR JADEN IN THE CLASSROOM.
(Cyndi Panko/CESD Director of Special Services) "Her school counselor called and said can you help? We have this really motivated student who has worked so hard and can't come to the school."
SEVERAL STEPS LATER-- "DOUBLE" BECAME A REALITY FOR JADEN..
SHE NAVIGATES THE DEVICE LIKE YOU WOULD A VIDEO GAME.. I WALKED WITH HER TO THIRD PERIOD.
(NATS)
WHEN THERE ARE STAIRS OR DOORS TO OPEN-- HER COUNSELOR CARRIES "DOUBLE."
(NATS)
(Diane Shewbert/School Counselor) "They really miss Jaden because she's such a positive, energetic person. So they've been able to keep those friendships together.. Because if you're not at school you're forgotten, and this way she's not forgotten."
DEFINITELY NOT FORGOTTEN.
IN ADDITION TO CLASS-- JADEN CAN ALSO GO TO ASSEMBLIES OR OTHER ACTIVITIES WITH DOUBLE-- AND EVERY DAY-- SHE HAS LUNCH WITH HER FRIENDS IN A CLASSROOM.
THE DAY WE WERE THERE-- SHE WAS COMMENTING ON HER FRIEND'S NEW SHORT HAIR-DO.
(Jaden Cloyes/Student) "By the way, it takes a long time to grow back."
("It's cost effective and it allows them to reconnect with their friends which is invaluable."
JADEN ADMITS, THE SOCIAL INTERACTION IS HER FAVORITE PART ABOUT DOUBLE--EVEN WHEN SHE HAS SPENT LONG HOURS IN THE HOSPITAL.. DOUBLE KEEPS HER RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ACTION.
SHE SAYS, IT'S WHAT HAS GIVEN HER HOPE FOR THE FUTURE.
(Jaden Cloyes/Student) "It's yeah.. I was sick but I was able to go to college, graduate, have a career and move on, So I think that's just giving me that kind of opportunity which is amazing."
The Double device costs about $3,000. But the school district says that's significantly cheaper than hiring a tutor to go into the student's home.
Instructional Links
Website: Robot Shop, How to Make a Robot
http://www.robotshop.com/blog/en/robots/gorobotics/tutorials/how-to-make-a-robot
Lesson Plan: What is a Robot?
http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/eng06.sci.engin.design.lp_robot/what-is-a-robot/
Online Interactive Game: Wonderville, Robot Factory
http://www.wonderville.ca/asset/robot-factory
Website Article: VGo, Remote Student