Dive Brief:
- The VGo, which just had a test run in Prince George’s County, MD, is pegged as a robot that allows students to attend class virtually during prolonged medical absences.
- The wheeled robot features microphones and video technology and is controlled using a laptop or remote control, allowing students to hear and see inside the classroom.
- The VGo was created by New Hampshire-based VGo Communications, and districts wanting to implement the robot must pay a $6,000 initiation fee, as well as an annual maintenance fee of $1,100.
Dive Insight:
ESchool News points out some nifty extra functions, including a text to speech device for students with limited speech and a USB port that can be hooked up to a joystick or mouse for students with limited mobility.
That said, it is a bit pricey. Why not just have students join a Skype or Google Hangout for the mere price of a computer?
The goal of finding ways to educate students remotely has become clearer in recent years. Many states have already turned to online learning for snow days, so perhaps similar ideas could be interchanged for sick days?
